CMT

The Nuclear Department (ND) provides academic training and education for naval and civilian personnel appointed to posts in support of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme (NNPP). It delivers over 45 different scheduled training courses ranging in duration from one day to one year and from introductory level to a full MSc in Nuclear Technology and Safety Management. Shorter courses are offered throughout the year. In addition to the wide range of pre-scheduled courses the Department has extensive experience in designing, developing and delivering bespoke training courses to all sectors of the nuclear industry. Courses include:

     • Introductory courses
     • Gamma Spectrography
     • Reactor Technology
     • Radiochemistry
     • Safety Management
     • Health, Physics and Radiological Protection Courses
     • Postgraduate Training and Education

Closely linked and integral to the Department's training is the undertaking of research and consultancy activities specifically linked to the needs of the nuclear industry and our customers. The Department enjoys a close working relationship with the Industry and regularly undertakes work of a sensitive or classified nature for commercial companies and government organisations both within the UK and abroad. Current research activities include:

     • Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
     • Nuclear Safety and Accident Consequence Analysis
     • Atmospheric Transport Pathways
     • Estuarine Transport Pathways
     • Reactor Physics and Simulation
     • Neutron Simulation
     • Arctic Nuclear Wastes
     • Advanced Computing Algorithms
     • Reactor Metallurgy
     • Thermal Hydraulics

The Nuclear Department employs approximately 100 full-time staff directly in the management and delivery of its training, research and consultancy activities.

The Department's training, research and consultancy work is supported with extensive high quality facilities including a number of high-fidelity reactor plant simulators, modern well-equipped laboratories, a comprehensive irradiation facility, scanning electron microscope and a Basic Principle Simulator that mathematically models and displays the behaviour of a variety of reactor designs and associated systems under normal operating and fault conditions. Extensive, well-equipped laboratories covering all the disciplines required to support the Department's training and research activities including Nuclear Physics, Gamma Spectroscopy, Counting, Radiological Protection, Metallurgy, Engineering, Chemistry and Radiochemistry.

Specialised Equipment

X-Ray Generator Radiation output at 1m: 93Gy per hour
Neutron Generator Maximum neutron flux: 2 x 108 n/s/4psr 10%
Radiation output at 1.1m: approx. 3mSv/hr in air
Gamma Source Maximum dose rate at 1m: 7mSv/hr
Mayes Tensile Test Frame
Scanning Electron Microscope

Associated Equipment and Techniques

Doseleader electrometer with 600cc, 35cc and 0.6cc ionization chambers
Surface and air sampling equipment and counting system
MICROSPEC-2 E probe (50mm x 50mm NaI. 60keV - 3MeV+ g. Up to 100mSv/hr)
MICROSPEC-2 N probe (50mm x 50mm NE213 scintillator and 50mm x 50mm 3He detector. Up to 800keV)
Lithium Gadolinium Borate neutron detector
Siemens personal electronic dosimeter EPDN 1 and 2 - thermal and fast neutron detection
Fuji Electric personal electronic dosimeter – thermal and fast neutron detection.
TLD and CR-39 passive personal dosimeters• Bubble Technology personal bubble dosimeters.
Fast and thermal neutron foil activation and counting systems
Range of solid and water based tissue equivalent phantoms

Website:   Nuclear Department, Defence Academy College of Management and Technology

EMSNE

Master of Nuclear Technology

and Safety Management

PhD

Courses and seminars

2006 - 2007

1

4

5

~50

2005 - 2006

-

4

8

~50

2004 - 2005

-

4

9

~45

2003 - 2004

-

4

6

~45

The Master's course is delivered in three phases. A brief overview of the programme follows:

Phase 1, which consists of 7 modules, provides students with core scientific principles and engineering concepts in nuclear technology.
Atom and nuclear physics introduces students to the theory and provides them with a working knowledge of atomic and nuclear physics as a foundation for further studies in reactor physics and radiation related subjects.2.
Reactor physics increases the students' quantitative understanding of the reactor physics theory and practice involved in the design and operation of nuclear reactor plant (NRP).
Radiological protection advances students' understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of radiological protection while providing them with a working knowledge of radiation protection legislation.
Chemistry provides students with an understanding of the theoretical, operational and practical aspects of chemistry control of the NRP.
Reactor engineering and materials gives the students a detailed understanding of the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic performance of the plant, together with specialist knowledge of the nuclear, mechanical and chemical requirements, material constraints and current related problems.
Nuclear safety and accident studies provides the student with sufficient knowledge of the requirements and principles of nuclear safety regulation, safety justification and accident studies to ensure safe operation and supervision of the NRP, and the ability to act as a Technical Advisor within a reactor accident response organisation.
Reactor Dynamics provides students with sufficient knowledge of the dynamics principles of operation of the NRP to enable them to fulfil their supervisory reactor operating responsibilities.

Phase 2 consists of three mandatory modules and one option module. The three mandatory modules are:
Advanced reactor engineering provides students with a detailed knowledge and understanding of how reactor physics and thermal hydraulics theory may be applied to the modelling of whole NRP dynamic behaviour.
Advanced nuclear safety management provides students with the tools to be able to understand regulatory processes and explain how these are implemented through the actions of nuclear safety regulators. It also enables students to fully understand the various nuances of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA).
Safety case development takes the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Probabilistic Safety Assessment learning outcomes forward and provides students with a robust understanding of the central issues and supporting technical arguments required in the production of an approved safety case, by interactively developing and producing the key documentation required to safety justify a model nuclear facility. This module requires students to act as a team and demonstrate integrated safety case production management team skills.

Each option module has been designed to give students an opportunity to specialise and/or broaden their knowledge in a particular technical area. Students will choose one of the following 2-week option modules: 
     - Computational methods in core design and shielding 
     - Structural integrity of materials
     - Nuclear decommissioning and waste management
     - Advanced reactor systems
     - Nuclear fuel cycle
     - Principles of criticality safety
     - Computational thermal hydraulics
     - Radiological environmental impact assessment
     - Students develop their independent learning skills by undertaking assessed assignments during the modules.

Phase 3 is the 20-week long group or individual design study/dissertation period of the MSc. The research project begins with a detailed project plan and literature survey, and is assessed through the presentation of a dissertation and an oral examination. A typical group design study will be associated with a hypothetical nuclear submarine propulsion plant powered by a generic reactor type, such as pressurised water, high temperature gas, integrated, or fast. In addition, students will specialise in one or more of the key aspects of plant performance, such as reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, nuclear safety, radiation safety, operational performance and plant dynamic response, thus acquiring generic integrated project management skills. Students will need to acquire and effectively use information from a wide range of sources ensuring that they develop the necessary skills to gain maximum benefit from modern library and information retrieval systems. Both individual and group presentations will be used to develop communication skills appropriate for a nuclear technical/academic audience; group presentations are particularly valuable for instilling confidence and encouraging an ability to work as part of an integrated project team.
Phase 3 demonstrates the practical application of knowledge. The project provides students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained in other modules to a real nuclear engineering problem. Design software is provided for key areas, and tuition is provided on the application of key software packages. The project is the final module of an MSc in Nuclear Technology and Safety Management: as such, an individual dissertation of approximately 20,000 words is submitted in each research area; assessment is through dissertation and presentation, evaluated by staff and an external examiner.

Dates

Title

Phase 1

15/10 - 15/02

Core principles and

engineering concepts

Phase 2

Advansed concepts

(3 mandatory modules)

Phase 2

18/02 - 02/05

Advanced concepts

(1 option module

  from 8 )

Phase 3

05/05 - 19/09

Master project and thesis

(group or indivisual project)