Description:
This course covers nuclear science and reactor engineering, from radiation physics through advanced reactor design and deployment. Topics progress from photon and charged particle interactions, radiation exposure, and fission physics to reactivity control, reactor kinetics, and feedback mechanisms.
Then it provides an overview of the design philosophies and safety features of three advanced reactor technologies — Liquid Metal Reactors (LMRs), High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs), and Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) — alongside both Deterministic (DSA) and Probabilistic (PSA) safety analysis methodologies.
The module concludes with SMR deployment, covering siting, environmental, and regulatory frameworks. A final topic examines the technical, economic, and social dimensions of repurposing coal plant infrastructure for SMRs in the context of the global energy transition.
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain radiation physics, fission, reactivity, and health impacts
- Compare design philosophies and passive safety in Liquid Metal cooled reactors (LMRs), Gas-cooled Reactors (GCRs), and Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs)
- Explain and apply deterministic and probabilistic methods to assess reactor safety
- Evaluate siting, environmental, and regulatory factors for SMRs
- Assess technical, economic, and social aspects of repurposing coal plants for SMRs
This course is self-paced and contains 15 hours of content consisting of lecture videos, instructional materials, self-directed activities, knowledge checks, and quizzes.
Learners who successfully complete all requirements for the course will receive a digital Certificate of Achievement.
This module was developed by the following Nuclear Engineering Faculty from Purdue University:
- Hitesh Bindra, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Chair
- Allen Garner, Professor, Graduate Program Chair
- Stylianos Chatzidakis, Assistant Professor, Associate Reactor Director and Director of Nuclear Engineering Radiation Laboratory