Course in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors
Online 300-hour course in kinetic models of nuclear reactors. 6 modules covering ANSI/ANS-19.6.1 (start-up physics tests after refuelling in PWRs), ANSI/ANS-5.1 (decay heat in light water reactors) and PARCS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors — studying from South Africa
South Africa is one of the few African countries with an operating nuclear power programme, centred on the Koeberg power station near Cape Town, operated by Eskom. The country also has nuclear research and fuel cycle activity through the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, known as Necsa, based at Pelindaba near Pretoria. Nuclear engineers work on reactor operation, safety, fuel management and decommissioning. The National Nuclear Regulator is the independent authority that licenses and oversees nuclear activities.
Fees for South Africa: R 12 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Nuclear activities in South Africa are regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and professional registration runs through ECSA. Acceptance of a private qualification in this regulated field rests with employers or the relevant authority, so verify before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in nuclear engineering?
Nuclear employers, including Eskom and specialist contractors, typically require formally recognised qualifications, security clearances and regulatory competence. A private SEIUM qualification may add background knowledge but is unlikely to meet formal requirements on its own. Discuss this with employers in the nuclear sector to understand how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before enrolling.
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
Explain the role of delayed neutrons in reactor control.
Solve the point kinetics equations for different reactivity insertions.
Incorporate temperature and void feedback coefficients into dynamic models.
Describe spatial kinetics methods and their approximations.
Interpret reactivity measurements using inverse kinetics.
Analyse the dynamic stability of a reactor under disturbances.
Develop a kinetic model with feedback for a case study.
Who it's for
- Reactor physics engineer who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Reactor kinetics and dynamics analyst who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Core design engineer who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Start-up tests engineer who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Developer of nuclear simulation codes who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Researcher in nuclear system dynamics who wants to specialise in Kinetic Models of Nuclear Reactors.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- ANSI/ANS-19.6.1 (start-up physics tests after refuelling in PWRs)
- ANSI/ANS-5.1 (decay heat in light water reactors)
- IAEA SSG-52 (reactor core design)
- 10 CFR 50, Appendix A (general design criteria)
- Regulatory Guide 1.203 (transient and accident analysis methods)
- ANSI/ANS-10.4 (V&V of nuclear scientific software)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Neutron life cycle and generation time1.2Prompt and delayed neutrons1.3Precursors: six- and eight-group models1.4Effective delayed neutron fraction1.5Reactivity units: pcm and dollars1.6Subcritical multiplication1.7Inhour equation1.8Stable reactor period1.9Neutron sources for start-up1.10Practical: period from reactivity
2.1Derivation from the transport equation2.2One-group precursor approximation2.3Prompt jump approximation2.4Step and ramp reactivity response2.5Numerical methods for stiff systems2.6Reactor transfer functions2.7Neutron noise: Feynman and Rossi methods2.8Reactivity measurement with a reactimeter2.9Validity and limits of point kinetics2.10Laboratory: point kinetics integrator in Python
3.1Fuel Doppler coefficient3.2Moderator and void coefficients3.3Lumped fuel thermal models3.4Linear stability and the Nyquist diagram3.5Xenon spatial oscillations3.6Coupled instabilities in BWRs3.7Self-regulating behaviour3.8Thermal expansion in fast reactors3.9Moving precursors in molten salts3.10Workshop: stability analysis of a BWR
4.1Time-dependent diffusion4.2Improved quasi-static method4.3Modal synthesis4.4Transient nodal methods4.5Kinetics with transport and MOC4.6Amplitude-shape factorisation4.7PARCS, DYN3D and SIMULATE-3K codes4.8LMW and TWIGL benchmarks4.9Time step and accuracy4.10Laboratory: rod transient in a 2D core
5.1Kinetics in ADS subcritical systems5.2Rod drop tests5.3Control rod calibration5.4Experimental measurement of effective beta5.5Experiments in research reactors5.6Pulses in TRIGA reactors5.7Automatic power control5.8Excore and incore nuclear instrumentation5.9Kinetics in safety analysis5.10Case study: interpreting a TRIGA pulse
6.1Definition of the system and scenario6.2Selection of the kinetic model6.3Obtaining kinetic parameters6.4Numerical implementation6.5Verification against an analytical solution6.6Transient simulation6.7Stability and sensitivity analysis6.8Conclusions on dynamic behaviour6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PARCS, SIMULATE-3K, MATLAB/Simulink, Serpent 2, Python (SciPy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assignments are based on real procedures for simulating reactivity transients, analysis of reactimeter measurements and thermal-hydraulic feedback models. Assessment is continuous, module by 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.
Explain the role of delayed neutrons in reactor control.
Solve the point kinetics equations for different reactivity insertions.
Incorporate temperature and void feedback coefficients into dynamic models.
Describe spatial kinetics methods and their approximations.
Interpret reactivity measurements using inverse kinetics.
Where this takes you
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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with PARCS, SIMULATE-3K, MATLAB/Simulink, Serpent 2, Python (SciPy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM on 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 credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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