Nuclear Engineering

Key attributes and activities of nuclear engineering are described in this article, with a focus placed on basic concepts and mathematical formulations to represent the steady state and transient behavior of nuclear fission reactors. Mechanisms of neutron interaction with matter are presented and followed by neutron diffusion theory to illustrate the basic approaches for nuclear reactor analysis and design. Together with a description of key systems and components in light water reactor (LWR) plants, thermal‐hydraulic and safety analysis of LWR systems are also presented. This is followed by a discussion on nuclear fuel cycles and used nuclear fuel management. Advanced reactor physics formulations via the neutron transport equation and the development of advanced reactor designs conclude the article.