Teaching Nuclear Engineering to Electrical Engineering Students

1

• Teaching Nuclear Engineering to Electrical
  Engineering Students
• ASEE Conference
• Honolulu, HI, 24-27 June 2007
• Robert J. Barsanti Jr.
• Associate Professor Electrical and Computer
  Engineering

2
Overview

• Introduction Background
• Nuclear Engineering First Offering
• Nuclear Engineering Second Offering
• Future Plans
• Lessons Learned
• Summary

3
Background

• Military Teaching college in Charleston, SC
• 2000 cadets, 2000 evening students
• Two Engineering Departments, Civil, and EE
• 125 EE students

4
Introduction

• Nuclear Engineering Technical Elective
• 3 credit hour course
• Taught twice Spring 2004, Spring 2006
• 2004 offering Too many topical areas
• 2006 offering- More focused curriculum

5
Introduction

• Course Description
• Introduction to the theory and application of
  nuclear energy. Topics include nuclear fuels
  nuclear reactor principals, concepts, examples,
  and construction, operation, and ecological
  impact heat transfer and fluid flow radiation
  hazards and shielding nuclear propulsion and
  controlled fusion.

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Spring 2004 First Offering

• Text Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, John,
  R. Lamarsh, and Anthony Baratta.
• Prerequisite Completion of both physics, and
  chemistry sequences.
• GoalProvide technically sound introduction to
  nuclear engineering

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Spring 2004 Course Objectives
ELEC 307 Nuclear Engineering Spring 2004 Course objectives
1. Introduction to nuclear engineering concepts including Introduction to atomic and nuclear physics. Fission and fusion Nuclear fuels Operation construction of nuclear reactors and power plants. Introduction to reactor kinetics. Introduction to radiation effects and shielding Heat transfer and fluid flow Ecological impact 2. Performance of a student report and presentation to promote Teamwork skills Written communication skills Oral presentation skill
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Spring 2004 Course Schedule
ELEC 307 Nuclear Engineering Spring 2004 Course Schedule Hours Scheduled Hours Actual
Introduction to nuclear engineering. 1.0 1.0
Atomic and nuclear physics. 6.0 9.0
Radiation and matter 6.0 9.0
Nuclear fuels and Fission 4.0 6.0
Operation construction of power plants 3.0 5.0
Construction of nuclear reactors 4.0 6.0
Reactor kinetics 4.0 3.0
Radiation effects and shielding 4.0 0
Heat transfer and fluid flow 4.0 0
Ecological impact 3.0 0
Student projects 2.0 2.0
Examinations 3.0 3.0
Total 44.0 45.0
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Spring 2006 Course Schedule
ELEC 307 Nuclear Engineering Summer 2006 Course Schedule Hours Scheduled Hours Actual
Introduction to nuclear engineering. 1.0 1.0
Atomic and nuclear physics. 8.0 8.0
Radiation and matter 8.0 8.0
Nuclear fuels and Fission 4.0 4.0
Operation construction of power plants 5.0 5.0
Construction of nuclear reactors 6.0 7.0
Reactor kinetics 6.0 5.0
Student projects 2.5 2.5
Examinations 3.0 3.0
Total 43.5 43.5
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Future Plans

• Expand project portion of course to include
  contemporary issues from nuclear engineering
  news, reviews and journals.
• Focus on single reactor type (probably
  pressurized water reactor) to allow more in depth
  coverage.

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Summary

• Discussed topic selection and course format for a
  3 credit hour technical elective in nuclear
  engineering