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Master'sNuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies Applications open

Master’s in Power Conversion and Balance of Plant for Fusion Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in power conversion and balance of plant engineering for fusion, structured in 12 modules covering fusion power plant architecture, power cycle thermodynamics, primary cooling circuits, thermal storage, pulsed power systems, grid connection, plant systems modelling, reliability, economics and sustainability, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the energy architecture of a fusion power plant.

02

Design Rankine and Brayton power cycles.

03

Size cooling circuits and thermal storage.

04

Design pulsed power systems and grid connection.

05

Model integrated plant systems.

06

Assess plant reliability, availability and economics.

07

Analyse the safety and sustainability of the balance of plant.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Balance of plant engineers.
  • Power cycle engineers.
  • Electrical power systems engineers.
  • Plant systems analysts.
  • RAMI engineers.
  • Energy economics analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the fusion energy sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (network code on requirements for grid connection of generators)
  • ASME BPVC Section VIII (pressure vessels)
  • EN 13445 (unfired pressure vessels)
  • IEC 61000 (electromagnetic compatibility and power quality)
  • IAEA SSG-91 (safety of fusion facilities)
  • IEC 60076 (power transformers)
  • ISO 14040 (life-cycle assessment: principles and framework)
  • PROCESS
  • Thermoflex
  • CoolProp
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • PLECS
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Architecture of a fusion power plant
  2. 1.2Energy flows in the plant
  3. 1.3Plasma and engineering gain Q
  4. 1.4Recirculating power
  5. 1.5Pulsed versus steady-state operation
  6. 1.6Reference designs: DEMO, ARC and STEP
  7. 1.7Grid requirements
  8. 1.8Target availability
  9. 1.9Comparison with fission
  10. 1.10Case study: Sankey diagram of a fusion plant
  1. 2.1Steam Rankine cycle
  2. 2.2Helium Brayton cycle
  3. 2.3Supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle
  4. 2.4Combined cycles
  5. 2.5Efficiency and exergy
  6. 2.6Reheating and regeneration
  7. 2.7Heat sources at different temperatures
  8. 2.8Cycle optimisation
  9. 2.9Simulation software
  10. 2.10Lab: optimisation of a Rankine cycle in Thermoflex or CoolProp
  1. 3.1Coolants: water, helium and liquid metals
  2. 3.2First wall, blanket and divertor circuits
  3. 3.3Pumps and circulators
  4. 3.4Steam generators
  5. 3.5Heat exchangers
  6. 3.6Coolant activation
  7. 3.7Water chemistry
  8. 3.8Temperature control
  9. 3.9Circuit safety
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: sizing a heat exchanger
  1. 4.1The need for it in pulsed operation
  2. 4.2Molten salts
  3. 4.3Solid-media storage
  4. 4.4Latent heat
  5. 4.5Integration with the cycle
  6. 4.6Transient control
  7. 4.7Storage sizing
  8. 4.8Costs
  9. 4.9Experience from concentrated solar power
  10. 4.10Case study: storage for a pulsed tokamak
  1. 5.1Magnet power supplies
  2. 5.2Thyristor and IGBT converters
  3. 5.3Flywheel energy storage
  4. 5.4Reactive power and compensation
  5. 5.5Power quality on the grid
  6. 5.6Heating power supplies
  7. 5.7System protection
  8. 5.8Interface with the high-voltage grid
  9. 5.9Substation design
  10. 5.10Lab: converter simulation in PLECS or Simulink
  1. 6.1Direct energy conversion
  2. 6.2Aneutronic fusion
  3. 6.3Hydrogen production with fusion heat
  4. 6.4Industrial heat applications
  5. 6.5Desalination
  6. 6.6Fusion-fission hybrid plants
  7. 6.7Advantages and limitations
  8. 6.8State of research
  9. 6.9Future markets
  10. 6.10Workshop: analysis of non-electric applications
  1. 7.1European grid codes
  2. 7.2ENTSO-E connection requirements
  3. 7.3Load following
  4. 7.4Grid ancillary services
  5. 7.5System stability
  6. 7.6Integration with renewables
  7. 7.7Island operation
  8. 7.8Start-up and shutdown
  9. 7.9Plant control
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: analysis of connection requirements
  1. 8.1PROCESS systems codes
  2. 8.2Integrated plant modelling
  3. 8.3Multi-objective optimisation
  4. 8.4Parameter uncertainty
  5. 8.5Dynamic plant simulation
  6. 8.6Modelica for fusion systems
  7. 8.7Digital twins
  8. 8.8Validation with data
  9. 8.9Sensitivity analysis
  10. 8.10Lab: plant model with PROCESS
  1. 9.1RAMI analysis
  2. 9.2Critical failure modes
  3. 9.3Remote maintenance and timescales
  4. 9.4Availability of in-vessel components
  5. 9.5Redundancy
  6. 9.6Maintenance strategies
  7. 9.7Reliability of magnets and cryogenics
  8. 9.8Reliability databases
  9. 9.9Economic impact
  10. 9.10Case study: RAMI analysis of a cooling circuit
  1. 10.1Capital cost
  2. 10.2Operation and maintenance cost
  3. 10.3Levelised cost of electricity
  4. 10.4Learning curves
  5. 10.5Comparison with other technologies
  6. 10.6Financing models
  7. 10.7Project risk
  8. 10.8Deployment scenarios
  9. 10.9Economic sensitivity analysis
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: LCOE model in Python
  1. 11.1Balance of plant safety
  2. 11.2Tritium in secondary circuits
  3. 11.3Licensing of the complete plant
  4. 11.4Environmental impact
  5. 11.5Waste management
  6. 11.6Water consumption
  7. 11.7Public acceptance
  8. 11.8Life-cycle assessment
  9. 11.9Regulatory framework
  10. 11.10Workshop: life-cycle assessment of a power plant
  1. 12.1Definition of the plant
  2. 12.2Design requirements
  3. 12.3Power cycle design
  4. 12.4Primary circuits and storage
  5. 12.5Electrical systems
  6. 12.6Availability analysis
  7. 12.7Economic assessment
  8. 12.8Conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis: written report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PROCESS, Thermoflex, CoolProp, MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for thermodynamic cycle optimisation, integrated plant systems modelling and availability and economic analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (network code for generators), ASME BPVC Section VIII, EN 13445, IEC 61000, IAEA SSG-91, IEC 60076 (transformers), ISO 14040.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EU) 2016/631, ASME BPVC Section VIII and EN 13445 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:PROCESS, Thermoflex, CoolProp, MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:The balance of plant design for a fusion power plant, from power cycle and primary circuits to electrical systems, availability analysis and economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

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

Define the plant
Set out the fusion plant concept and its design requirements.
Design the power cycle
Select and optimise the Rankine or Brayton cycle with Thermoflex or CoolProp.
Size circuits and storage
Dimension the primary cooling circuits and the thermal storage for pulsed operation.
Design the electrical systems
Define pulsed power supplies and the grid connection, and analyse plant availability.
Master's Thesis
Carry out the economic assessment and present the complete balance of plant design, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Balance of plant engineerPower cycle engineerElectrical power systems engineerPlant systems analystRAMI engineerEnergy economics analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

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 totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with PROCESS, Thermoflex, CoolProp, MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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