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151-0156-00L 6 Credits MSC D-ITET , D-MAVT , D-PHYS

Technology and Safety of Nuclear Power Plants

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Annalisa Manera
Note: The previous course title until FS22 "Safety of Nuclear Power Plants".
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:22

Abstract

Knowledge about safety concepts and requirements of nuclear power plants and their implementation in deterministic safety concepts and safety systems. Knowledge about behavior under accident conditions and about the methods of probabilistic risk analysis and how to handle results. Introduction into key elements of the enhanced safety of nuclear systems for the future.

Objective

Deep understanding of safety requirements, concepts and system of nuclear power plants, knowledge of deterministic and probabilistic methods for safety analysis, aspects of nuclear safety research, licensing of nuclear power plant operation. Overview on key elements of the enhanced safety of nuclear systems for the future.

Content

(1) Introduction into the specific safety issues of nuclear power plants, main facts of health effects of ionizing radiation, defense in depth approach. (2) Reactor protection and reactivity control, reactivity induced accidents (RIA). (3) Loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCA), emergency core cooling systems. (4) Short introduction into severe accidents (Beyond Design Base Accidents, BDBA). (5) Probabilistic risk analysis (PRA level 1,2,3). (6) Passive safety systems. (7) Safety of innovative reactor concepts.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Script:Hand-outs of lecture slides will be distributedScript "Short introduction into basics of nuclear power"

Literature

S. Glasston & A. Sesonke: Nuclear Reactor Engineering, Reactor System Engineering, Ed. 4, Vol. 2., Chapman & Hall, NY, 1994

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Mode
written 120 minutes
Aids
None

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Technology and Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
  • Tue 10:15-12:00 (LFW B 1)
  • Thu 14:15-16:00 (ML F 38)
4 h weekly
exercise Technology and Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
  • Tue 12:15-13:00 (LFW B 1)
1 h weekly

Offered In

  • Mechanical Engineering Master
    • Core Courses (The Core Courses in the Master’s program Mechanical Engineering listed below are indicative and include courses designed by the Department at the Master's level. With the approval of the tutor, students may also select Master's-level courses offered by other departments at ETH. These courses will be marked as non-regular in the LAG, but their categorization as Core Courses is possible if included in the approved LAG.)
  • Energy Science and Technology Master
    • Electives (These courses are particularly recommended, other ETH-courses from the field of Energy Science and Technology at large may be chosen in accordance with your tutor.)
  • Physics Master
    • Electives
      • General Electives (Students may choose General Electives from the entire course programme of ETH Zurich - with the following restrictions: courses that belong to the first or second year of a Bachelor curriculum at ETH Zurich as well as courses from GESS "Science in Perspective" are not eligible here. The following courses are explicitly recommended to physics students by their lecturers. (Courses in this list may be assigned to the category "General Electives" directly in myStudies. For the category assignment of other eligible courses keep the choice "no category" and take contact with the Study Administration ( ) after having received the credits.))
  • Nuclear Engineering Master (MSc Nuclear Engineering is a joint program of EPF Lausanne and ETH Zurich. The first semester takes place in Lausanne. Students therefore have to enroll at EPFL. For more information about the curriculum and courses see: ?)