2023 MeV Curriculum
The 2023 MeV school curriculum will be composed of lectures organized across eight focused modules, a team project, discussion assignments, tours of experimental facilities, and several social events.
MODULE 1: NUCLEAR FUNDAMENTALS
Specific modeling, experimental, and validation needs and expectations of the various stakeholders across the nuclear energy community will be discussed. Providing an understanding and alignment with the overall nuclear R&D objectives. Views from US-DOE, national laboratories, industry, utilities, and regulatory body will be presented.
MODULE 2: NUCLEAR POWER LICENSING AND REGULATIONS
Legacy methods and emerging research done in service of licensing and regulatory activities will be a content theme throughout several lectures. This will include legacy and current research and methods developed by regulatory bodies as well as influencing professional research institutions.
MODULE 3: ENHANCING CURRENT REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
An overview of the various existing reactor technologies to include particular modeling, experimental, and validation requirements of each reactor technology and understanding what drives those particularities. This will cover light water and Gen-IV reactors, and the examination of some of the unique aspects of research and experimental reactors.
MODULE 4: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
Aspects of fuel fabrication and management will be addressed. Nuclear fuel cycle technologies are developed to improve the process of preparing nuclear fuel material for reactor operation and the subsequent management of those materials after utilization in a reactor.
MODULE 5: ADVANCED REACTOR FUEL AND TESTING
Various testing techniques used to determine the behavior of nuclear fuels and materials subject to complex reactor environments will be discussed. Material testing is necessary to qualify nuclear fuels and materials for safe operation in advanced reactor designs.
MODULE 6: ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
Introduce various reactor deployment projects recently initiated in the U.S., including NuScale, the Versatile Test Reactor, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and NASA reactors for space exploration.
MODULE 7: RISK AND SAFETY CHALLENGES
The challenges as well as the work to face nuclear safety and risk will be presented in many facets. Expertise from experimental to computational simulation methods and legacy to modern approaches will be discussed. This also includes a variety of applications including instrumentation and control, human factors, asset management, security, and more. Training in probabilistic risk analysis computational tools and tours of research facilities will also be included.
MODULE 8: COMPUTATIONAL METHODS AND NUCLEAR CHALLENGES
Various topics on the core identity of the MeV school will be addressed. Explore the various aspects of modeling and simulation from the life cycle to licensing and development of digital twins. Topics include multi-physics, V&V, digital engineering, experimental demonstration, and more.
Teams, Tours & Networking
The program includes a team project over the duration of the school, culminating in a presentation from each team and an awards ceremony on the final day.
Group discussions will occur each day to encourage additional exchange and sharing of ideas.
Technical tours will be provided by INL laboratory personnel who will lead the discussions.
Various networking events will be held, providing students with more opportunities to interact with lecturers, staff scientists, and other students and to learn about the rich history of nuclear energy.
Participants will receive a student book introducing each student’s research, which enables the students to obtain feedback and input from prominent experts and lecturers, and also will facilitate further student–student interactions and networking.