OVERVIEW

Technological solutions for nuclear energy conversion will be examined within the broader context of the global, European, and Italian energy landscapes, with particular emphasis on how they compare to the main traditional and renewable energy sources.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module has the aim to deepen the knowledge on to the nuclear fission and fusion applications. Particularly the module contributes to:

• Achieve the awareness of the nuclear technology applications in the energy field
• Understand how to position nuclear energy conversion technologies within the current and future landscape in terms of costs and competitiveness across different energy scenarios (characterized by varying degrees of renewable energy penetration)
• Understand the main characteristics of the energy landscapes expected by 2050 and the role of nuclear energy within them
• Be able to identify the main energy opportunities related to nuclear cogeneration

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide knowledge relating to the use of nuclear energy, starting from the nuclear engineering fundamentals and arriving at the description of the state of the art in the nuclear plant engineering field. The students at the end will be able to:

• Understand the national context of energy sources and energy exchanges
• Understand the main characteristics, components, and critical issues of a nuclear power plant
• Understand the details of the costs and underlying assumptions related to nuclear power generation
• Estimate the LCOE of a nuclear power plant based on known information and identify the main sources of uncertainty in the calculation

PREREQUISITES

Fundamentals of applied thermodynamics, heat transfer and industrial plant engineering.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and practical exercises developed in classroom.

Students with a certified learning disability (DSA), a disability, or other special educational needs are invited to contact the instructor at the beginning of the lessons to discuss teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account and provide appropriate accommodations.
Please also note that requests for exam accommodations or exemptions must be submitted using the form available at this link 
https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back, to the teaching professor, the SCUOLA contact person (federico.scarpa@unige.it), and the relevant office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it) at least seven working days before the examination, in accordance with the guidelines available at this link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The main technological solutions for nuclear energy conversion are presented within the context of the national and global energy landscape, with particular reference to plant characteristics, costs, and critical issues.

Recalls on nuclear physics. Elements of thermal-hydraulic and neutronic core balances of nuclear fission reactors. Essential components and operating principles of thermal and fast nuclear reactors. Description of the main nuclear reactors families. Nuclear fission reactors classification. Nuclear fuel cycle. Light water reactors (LWR): “classical” PWR and BWR; Generation III/III+ reactors (EPR, AP-1000, ABWR, etc.). Heavy water reactors (CANDU). High temperature reactors (HTR). Generation-IV. General aspects of fast reactors. Sodium Fast Reactors (SFR), Lead Fast Reactors (LFR) and Gas Fast Reactors (GFR). Hints on nuclear spent fuel and waste treatment. Hints on sub-critical reactors (ADS). Energy scenarios. Hints on the nuclear installations decommissioning. Additional issues on Nuclear Fusion reactors. Applications of the nuclear plants technology, including cogeneration and hydrogen production.

Through an energy and economic analysis of the main components of nuclear power plants, a methodology is provided for estimating the LCOE and its uncertainty with regard to nuclear energy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• S. Glasstone, A. Sesonske (1994). "Nuclear Reactor Engineering". (4th ed.). Springer Press.
• N. Tsoulfanidis (2013). " The Nuclear Fuel Cycle". (1st ed.). ANS Press.
• M. Joyce (2018). "Nuclear Engineering. A Conceptual Introduction to Nuclear Power".  (1st ed.) Elsevier Press.
• R. L. Murray, K. E. Holbert (2025). "Nuclear Energy. An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems and Applications of Nuclear Processes". (9ht ed.). Elsevier Press.
• B. Zohuri, S. K. Mousavi Balgehshiri, G. Lomonaco (2025). "Nuclear Reactor Physics and Operation: Neutronic Analysis for Nuclear Reactor Design". (1st ed.) CRC Press.

The course handouts, available on Aulaweb, are the reference material for exam preparation, while other suggested texts can be used for in-depth study of specific topics.

Students with learning disabilities and working students can contact the instructor for any clarifications and to arrange for the materials to be used according to their needs, while respecting the course's learning objectives.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11917/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examinations.

Students with a certified learning disability (DSA), a disability, or other special educational needs are invited to contact the instructor at the beginning of the lessons to discuss teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account and provide appropriate accommodations.
Please also note that requests for exam accommodations or exemptions must be submitted using the form available at this link 
https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back, to the teaching professor, the SCUOLA contact person (federico.scarpa@unige.it), and the relevant office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it) at least seven working days before the examination, in accordance with the guidelines available at this link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment of the content of the course is carried out mainly during the final exam and consists of an oral examination, which is structured in the discussion of several subjects of the course.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For any additional information not included in the unit description, contact the professor.