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CourseNuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies Applications open

Course in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles

Online 300-hour course in burnup simulation and fuel cycles. 6 modules covering ANSI/ANS-5.1 (fuel residual heat), ANSI/ANS-8.1 (criticality safety) and SCALE (TRITON/ORIGEN). Assigned tutor and enrolment open.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Solve the Bateman equations for isotopic evolution.

02

Simulate fuel burnup with depletion codes.

03

Analyse refuelling strategies and core management.

04

Calculate residual heat and the composition of spent fuel.

05

Apply the concept of burnup credit in criticality.

06

Compare open, closed and recycling cycles.

07

Evaluate fuel cycle scenarios using technical and economic criteria.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Fuel management engineer seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Reactor physics engineer seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Fuel cycle analyst seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Core design engineer seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Criticality specialist seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Researcher in advanced cycles seeking to specialise in Burnup Simulation and Fuel Cycles.
  • Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter the nuclear industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ANSI/ANS-5.1 (fuel residual heat)
  • ANSI/ANS-8.1 (criticality safety)
  • ANSI/ANS-8.27 (burnup credit)
  • IAEA SSG-52 (reactor core design)
  • IAEA SSG-15 (spent fuel storage)
  • ISO 10645 (residual heat of light water reactor fuel)
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Concept of burnup and common units
  2. 1.2Depletion of the fissile isotope and generation of actinides
  3. 1.3Fission products and neutron poisons
  4. 1.4Evolution of the multiplication factor with burnup
  5. 1.5Available reactivity and its management
  6. 1.6Effect of xenon and samarium
  7. 1.7Burnup of burnable poisons
  8. 1.8Power history and its influence
  9. 1.9Output quantities of interest
  10. 1.10Exercise: interpreting a reactivity curve
  1. 2.1System of depletion equations
  2. 2.2Decay and capture chains
  3. 2.3Stiffness of the system and solution methods
  4. 2.4Matrix exponential and expansion methods
  5. 2.5Coupling with transport calculation
  6. 2.6Burnup steps and how to choose them
  7. 2.7Predictor and corrector schemes
  8. 2.8Effective cross sections per step
  9. 2.9Errors from steps that are too long
  10. 2.10Practice: solving a simple isotopic chain
  1. 3.1Cell and assembly codes
  2. 3.2Burnup codes coupled to Monte Carlo
  3. 3.3Core and fuel management codes
  4. 3.4Generation of cross-section libraries
  5. 3.5Interpolation in burnup, temperature and density
  6. 3.6Thermal-hydraulic feedback models
  7. 3.7Verification and validation of the calculation chain
  8. 3.8Data and results management
  9. 3.9Software quality requirements
  10. 3.10Practice: setting up a complete calculation chain
  1. 4.1Refuelling cycles and their duration
  2. 4.2Reload fraction and loading patterns
  3. 4.3Pattern design and competing objectives
  4. 4.4Power peaks and thermal margins
  5. 4.5Positioning of fresh and burned elements
  6. 4.6Use of burnable poisons
  7. 4.7Cycle cost optimisation
  8. 4.8Licensing and operational constraints
  9. 4.9Flexibility in response to demand changes
  10. 4.10Practice: designing a refuelling pattern
  1. 5.1Calculating the spent fuel inventory
  2. 5.2Residual heat and its evolution
  3. 5.3Radiation source for shielding and transport
  4. 5.4Burnup credit in criticality
  5. 5.5Comparison of open and closed cycles
  6. 5.6Recycling and mixed oxide fuel
  7. 5.7Cycle sustainability indicators
  8. 5.8Uncertainty in the calculated inventory
  9. 5.9Validation with real fuel measurements
  10. 5.10Practice: calculating the inventory at discharge
  1. 6.1Choice of reactor and reference cycle
  2. 6.2Cell and assembly model
  3. 6.3Burnup calculation and library generation
  4. 6.4Core model and refuelling pattern
  5. 6.5Verification of margins and criteria
  6. 6.6Spent fuel inventory
  7. 6.7Economic analysis of the cycle
  8. 6.8Uncertainty analysis
  9. 6.9Calculation report
  10. 6.10Defence of the work
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SCALE (TRITON/ORIGEN), Serpent, CASMO/SIMULATE, OpenMC, DRAGON/DONJON, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures for isotopic evolution calculations, core reload design, and comparison with post-irradiation examination data. Assessment is continuous for each module plus the final integrating project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented final project:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as core pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Choice of reactor and reference cycle

Solve the Bateman equations for isotopic evolution.

Cell and assembly model

Simulate fuel burnup with depletion codes.

Burnup calculation and library generation

Analyse refuelling strategies and core management.

Core model and refuelling pattern

Calculate residual heat and the composition of spent fuel.

Verification of margins and criteria

Apply the concept of burnup credit in criticality.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Fuel management engineerReactor physics engineerFuel cycle analystCore design engineerCriticality specialistResearcher in advanced cycles
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses SCALE (TRITON/ORIGEN), Serpent, CASMO/SIMULATE, OpenMC and DRAGON/DONJON. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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