Multiplying media: Analytical Solutions and Non-leakage Probability

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Description

This lecture covers media containing fuel, the diffusion equation for thermal reactors, large reactors, analytical solutions for the reactor equation, and thermal non-leakage probability. It also discusses the fast and thermal neutron sources, the steady-state diffusion equation for thermal neutrons, and the Fermi age theory. The lecture delves into the criticality condition, reactor equation, and the migration area. Additionally, it explores the analytical solutions for spherical, rectangular parallelepiped, and cylindrical reactors. The concepts of non-leakage probability for thermal and fast neutrons are thoroughly explained.

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https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/0_97m06unw

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A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid (water or gas), which in turn runs through steam turbines. These either drive a ship's propellers or turn electrical generators' shafts. Nuclear generated steam in principle can be used for industrial process heat or for district heating.

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Pressurized water reactor

A pressurized water reactor (PWR) is a type of light-water nuclear reactor. PWRs constitute the large majority of the world's nuclear power plants (with notable exceptions being the UK, Japan and Canada). In a PWR, the primary coolant (water) is pumped under high pressure to the reactor core where it is heated by the energy released by the fission of atoms. The heated, high pressure water then flows to a steam generator, where it transfers its thermal energy to lower pressure water of a secondary system where steam is generated.

Light-water reactor

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