Horst-Michael Prasser: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2018

Name	Prof. em. Dr. Horst-Michael Prasser
Field	Kernenergiesysteme
E-mail	prasser@lke.mavt.ethz.ch
Department	Mechanical and Process Engineering
Relationship	Professor emeritus

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
151-0156-00L	Safety of Nuclear Power Plants	4 credits	2V + 1U	H.‑M. Prasser, V. Dang, L. Podofillini
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.
Lecture notes	Script: Hand-outs of lecture slides will be distributed Audio recording of lectures will be provided Script "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
Prerequisites / Notice	Prerequisites: Recommended in advance (not binding): 151-0163-00L Nuclear Energy Conversion
151-0160-00L	Nuclear Energy Systems	4 credits	2V + 1U	H.‑M. Prasser, I. Günther-Leopold, W. Hummel, P. K. Zuidema
Abstract	Nuclear energy and sustainability, uranium production, uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel production, reprocessing of spent fuel, nuclear waste disposal, Life Cycle Analysis, energy and materials balance of Nuclear Power Plants.
Objective	Students get an overview on the physical and chemical fundamentals, the technological processes and the environmental impact of the full energy conversion chain of nuclear power generation. The are enabled to assess to potentials and risks arising from embedding nuclear power in a complex energy system.
Content	(1) survey on the cosmic and geological origin of uranium, methods of uranium mining, separation of uranium from the ore, (2) enrichment of uranium (diffusion cells, ultra-centrifuges, alternative methods), chemical conversion uranium oxid - fluorid - oxid, fuel rod fabrication processes, (3) fuel reprocessing (hydrochemical, pyrochemical) including modern developments of deep partitioning as well as methods to treat and minimize the amount and radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. (4) nuclear waste disposal, waste categories and origin, geological and engineered barriers in deep geological repositories, the project of a deep geological disposal for radioactive waste in Switzerland, (5) methods to measure the sustainability of energy systems, comparison of nuclear energy with other energy sources, environmental impact of the nuclear energy system as a whole, including the question of CO2 emissions, CO2 reduction costs, radioactive releases from the power plant, the fuel chain and the final disposal. The material balance of different fuel cycles with thermal and fast reactors isdiscussed.
Lecture notes	Lecture slides will be distributed as handouts and in digital form
151-0170-00L	Computational Multiphase Thermal Fluid Dynamics	4 credits	2V + 1U	H.‑M. Prasser, A. Dehbi, B. Niceno
Abstract	The course deals with fundamentals of the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics to gas-liquid flows as well as particle laden gas flows including aerosols. The course will present the current state of art in the field. Challenging examples, mainly from the field of nuclear reactor safety, are discussed in detail.
Objective	Fundamentals of 3D multiphase flows (Definitions, Averages, Flow regimes), mathematical models (two-fluid model, Euler-Euler and Euler-Lagrange techniques), modeling of dispersed bubble flows (inter-phase forces, population balance and multi-bubble size class models), turbulence modeling, stratified and free-surface flows (interface tracking techniques such as VOF, level-sets and variants, modeling of surface tension), particulate and aerosol flows, particle tracking, one and two way coupling, random walk techniques to couple particle tracking with turbulence models, numerical methods and tools, industrial applications.
151-1053-00L	Thermo- and Fluid Dynamics	0 credits	2K	P. Jenny, R. S. Abhari, K. Boulouchos, C. Müller, N. Noiray, D. Poulikakos, H.‑M. Prasser, T. Rösgen, A. Steinfeld
Abstract	Current advanced research activities in the areas of thermo- and fluid dynamics are presented and discussed, mostly by external speakers. The talks are public and open also for interested students.
Objective	Knowledge of advanced research in the areas of thermo- and fluid dynamics
Content	Current advanced research activities in the areas of thermo- and fluid dynamics are presented and discussed, mostly by external speakers.
151-1906-00L	Multiphase Flow	4 credits	3G	H.‑M. Prasser
Abstract	Basics in multiphase flow systems,, mainly gas-liquid, is presented in this course. An introduction summarizes the characteristics of multi phase flows, some theoretical models are discussed. Following we focus on pipe flow, film and bubbly/droplet flow. Finally specific measuring methods are shown and a summary of the CFD models for multiphases is presented.
Objective	This course contributes to a deep understanding of complex multiphase systems and allows to predict multiphase conditions to design appropriate systems/apparatus. Actual examples and new developments are presented.
Content	The course gives an overview on following subjects: Basics in multiphase systems, pipeflow, films, bubbles and bubble columns, droplets, measuring techniques, multiphase flow in microsystems, numerical procedures with multiphase flows.
Lecture notes	Lecturing notes are available (copy of slides or a german script) partly in english
Literature	Special literature is recommended for each chapter.
Prerequisites / Notice	The course builds on the basics in fluidmechanics.
151-2016-00L	Radiation-Based Imaging Methods for Nuclear and Industrial Applications	4 credits	2V + 1U	H.‑M. Prasser, R. Adams
Abstract	The course offers an overview of the engineering principles of radiation-based imaging methods as X-ray/gamma and neutron imaging. Special attention is given to the application of such methods to nuclear engineering, industrial and civil safety problems. The Lecture is complemented with numerical and hands on laboratory exercises.
Objective	Understanding of the principles and applicability of radiation-based imaging methods as radiography and tomography, their mathematical principles and the necessary data and signal processing methods. The lecture gives an overview of the associated radiation source and imaging detector technologies.
Content	Principles of computed tomographic imaging (inverse problems, Radon transformation, central slice theorem); parallel, fan-, and cone-beam and limited angle tomography; image filtering and conditioning methods; back projection algorithms (FBP, ART, direct FFT, FDK); resolution and contrast; scatter and beam hardening artefacts; image rendering and segmentation; Radiation source technology: X-ray tubes/LINACs, synchrotrons, gamma sources, neutron sources (reactor, spallation, accelerator based, neutron generators); detector technology: interaction mechanisms for photons and neutrons, detector materials, resolution and efficiency; applicability and complementarity of photon vs. neutron based imaging techniques; thermal and fast neutron imaging; combined imaging modalities; Applications in nuclear technology: fuel bundle research (thermal-hydraulics, cladding hydration, spent fuel characterization etc.); non-nuclear industrial applications: multi-phase flows in oil and chemical industry, fuel cell research, cultural heritage investigations, PEPT etc.; applications in nuclear safe guards; applications for citizen and homeland security; More exotic approaches: energy selective imaging; TOF, ultra-fast X-ray tomography using deflected electron beams; the course is complemented with numerical exercises and hands on laboratory demonstrations (neutron imaging demo at ICON/PSI, X-ray/gamma imaging at ETH/PSI).
Lecture notes	Lecture slides, additional readings and exercise materials will be provided.
Literature	- Kak & Slaney: Principles of Computerized Tomographic Imaging (http://www.slaney.org/pct/) - Knoll: Radiation Detection and Measurement - Smith: The Scientist and Engineers Guide to Digital Signal Processing (http://www.dspguide.com/) - Natterer: The Mathematics of Computerized Tomography, Wiley, 1986 - Neutron imaging flyer, PSI (https://www.psi.ch/niag/ImagingBrochureEN/Neutron_Imaging_User_2016.pdf)
Prerequisites / Notice	Basic nuclear physics, recommended courses: 151-0163-00L Nuclear Energy Conversion, 151-2035-00L Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, 151-0123-00L Experimental Methods for Engineers, MATLAB skills for exercises.