Light Water Reactor Course (PWR/BWR)
Online 300-hour course in light water reactors (PWR/BWR). 6 modules covering 10 CFR 50, Appendix A (General Design Criteria), 10 CFR 50.46 (acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems) and RELAP5. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Compare the design and operation of PWR and BWR reactors.
Analyse the thermal hydraulics of the primary circuit in normal operation and transients.
Describe neutronics, reactivity control and core management.
Identify safety systems and their performance in design basis accidents.
Interpret water chemistry programmes and their relationship with materials degradation.
Evaluate ageing mechanisms and in-service inspection programmes.
Prepare a technical study on the operation of a light water reactor.
Who it's for
- Operations engineer at nuclear power plants looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- Thermal hydraulics analyst looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- Core management engineer looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- Nuclear safety engineer looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- Plant chemistry engineer looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- In-service inspection engineer looking to specialise in Light Water Reactor (PWR/BWR).
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- 10 CFR 50, Appendix A (General Design Criteria)
- 10 CFR 50.46 (acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems)
- ASME BPVC Section III (construction of nuclear components)
- ASME BPVC Section XI (in-service inspection)
- IAEA SSR-2/1 (Rev.1) (design of nuclear power plants)
- NUREG-0800 (Standard Review Plan)
- EPRI guidelines on primary water chemistry
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Principle of the indirect cycle1.2Vessel, loops and steam generators1.3Pressuriser and primary pressure control1.4Primary pumps and their inertia1.5Core, fuel assemblies and control rods1.6Chemical reactivity control with boron1.7Primary auxiliary systems1.8Dry containment and its variants1.9Evolution of designs and generations1.10Exercise: tracing the path of energy
2.1Heat balance and primary flow rate2.2Heat transfer in the fuel channel2.3Subcooled boiling and its extent2.4Boiling crisis and associated margin2.5Critical heat flux correlations2.6Flow distribution and mixing between subchannels2.7Pressure drops and system curve2.8Heat transfer in the steam generator2.9Natural circulation and its capacity2.10Practice: calculating the thermal margin of a channel
3.1Radial and axial power distribution3.2Peaking factors and associated limits3.3Design reactivity coefficients3.4Control rod worth and calibration3.5Boron and grey rod control3.6Burnable poisons and cycle management3.7Reload patterns and objectives3.8Axial oscillations and their control3.9Monitoring of operating margins3.10Practice: evaluating a reload pattern
4.1High- and low-pressure coolant injection4.2Accumulators and refuelling water tanks4.3Auxiliary feedwater4.4Containment spray and isolation4.5Emergency electrical power4.6Loss-of-coolant sequences4.7Steam generator tube rupture4.8Total loss of electrical power4.9Severe accident management4.10Practice: analysing an accident sequence
5.1Primary and secondary chemistry5.2Control of boron, lithium and hydrogen5.3Corrosion products and personnel dose5.4Steam generator tube degradation5.5Vessel embrittlement and surveillance5.6Internals and stress corrosion cracking5.7In-service inspection and applicable techniques5.8Ageing management and life extension5.9Operating experience of the technology5.10Practice: inspection plan for a component
6.1Selection of the reference plant6.2Description of the design and its systems6.3Thermal analysis of the core6.4Margin and limit analysis6.5Fuel management strategy6.6Analysis of an accident sequence6.7Chemistry and materials programme6.8Improvement proposals6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RELAP5, TRACE, CASMO/SIMULATE, PARCS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for loss-of-coolant transient analysis, core management and reload calculations, and review of water chemistry programmes. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Compare the design and operation of PWR and BWR reactors.
Analyse the thermal hydraulics of the primary circuit in normal operation and transients.
Describe neutronics, reactivity control and core management.
Identify safety systems and their performance in design basis accidents.
Interpret water chemistry programmes and their relationship with materials degradation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
Work is carried out with RELAP5, TRACE, CASMO/SIMULATE and PARCS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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