Nuclear Engineering: A Conceptual Introduction to Nuclear Power

Nuclear Engineering: A Conceptual Introduction to Nuclear Power provides coverage of the introductory, salient principles of nuclear engineering in a comprehensive manner for those entering the profession at the end of their degree. The nuclear power industry is undergoing a renaissance because of the desire for low-carbon baseload electricity, the growing population, and environmental concerns about shale gas, so this book is a welcomed addition to the science. In addition, users will find a great deal of information on the change in the industry, along with other topical areas of interest that are uniquely covered.

Intended for undergraduate students or early postgraduate students studying nuclear engineering, this new text will also be appealing to scientifically-literate non-experts wishing to be better informed about the ‘nuclear option'.

Presents a succinct and clear explanation of the key facts and concepts on how nuclear engineering power systems function and how their related fuel supply cycles operateProvides full coverage of the nuclear fuel cycle, including its scientific and historical basisDescribes a comprehensive range of relevant reactor designs, from those that are defunct, current, and in plan/construction for the future, including SMRs and GenIVSummarizes all major accidents and their impact on the industry and society

1. Fundamental concepts 2. Historical context 3. Fundamentals of radioactivity 4. The fission process 5. The actinides and related isotopes 6. Moderation 7. Cooling and thermal concepts 8. Elementary reactor principles 9. The reactor equation and introductory transport concepts 10. Mainstream power reactor systems 11. Advanced reactors and future concepts 12. Nuclear fuel manufacture 13. Nuclear fuel reprocessing 14. Nuclear safety and regulation 15. Radioactive waste management and disposal 16. Public acceptability, cost and nuclear energy in the future