RAD200 Nuclear Industries, Facilities and Activities

Lectures: Overview of all main nuclear industries, facilities and radiological activities, focusing on those relevant to environmental releases, decommissioning and/or environmental remediation activities. Students will explore the diverse landscape of nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants, research reactors, other nuclear fuel cycle facilities, including reprocessing sites, waste management facilities, facilities for processing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), former military sites, relevant medical facilities, industrial facilities, and research and development facilities. Sites contaminated by residual radioactive material from past and/or existing activities (e.g., uranium mining and milling) and areas affected by nuclear or radiological accidents are presented.

Site visit: Students will gain unique, first-hand insights to nuclear facilities via a one-day visit to the Kjeller Reactor, focusing on decommissioning and waste management activities. This will form the basis for one of the case studies for student projects.

Knowledge: Students will understand the various anthropogenic and natural sources of radionuclides that might raise concern from a radiological point of view to the public and/or the environment. Students will understand the different types of installations and activities that may give rise to this concern, to understand the origins/sources of the different radionuclides (fission, neutron activation, etc.), their presence in installations, in materials and in the environment, and how they can give rise to exposure (of the public and/or the environment).

Skills: The students will be able to apply basic principles of nuclear physics, and how they relate to the operations of facilities and the different types of radionuclides released to the environment. Students will be able to compare different nuclear industries, facilities and radiological activities, and link these to the different risks and environmental impacts that can be generated. Through analysis of real-life case studies, students will be able to apply the knowledge learned to practical applications.

General competence: The students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different nuclear industries, facilities and radiological activities and their potential environmental impact during normal operation, accidents and decommissioning. They will learn how to apply critical thinking to the evaluation of case studies, as well as to prepare and present technical and scientific work, orally and in writing.