This page describes NP 672 – Introduction to Nuclear Packaging, a three-unit, one-semester hybrid (synchronized online/in-person) course offered at the University of Nevada, Reno. It may be used as an elective for the Nuclear Packaging Graduate Program.
Course description
This course emphasizes the best and current practices for thermal modeling nuclear packaging with an emphasis on light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) storage and transportation canisters. Students will learn about techniques and methods to model packages during normal conditions of transport (NCT) and hypothetical accident conditions (HAC). They also will learn about Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations regarding the storage and transport of SNF and design limits.
As seen in graphic: Students use computational fluid dynamics to calculate temperature contours along the traversal and cross-sectional planes of an experiment representing a portion of a 7x7 boiling water reactor SNF assembly.
Recommended participants:
- Professionals and university students who want to enter and advance in nuclear packaging and related careers.
- Personnel who prepare or analyze the Safety Analysis Reports of Type B and fissile packages and who evaluate contents for shipment.
Core objectives:
- Familiarization with SNF, NCT and HAC; and NRC regulations
- Learn about methods for analyzing and predicting thermal behavior in nuclear packaging
- Learn effective techniques on how to generate mesh for SNF canisters
- Learn how to properly set up and conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for SNF canister modeling
- Develop mathematical formulations for the effective properties of SNF assemblies
Instructor:
Mustafa Hadj-Nacer, Ph.D., is a research associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the associate director of the Nuclear Packaging Graduate Program. He has extensive expertise in developing advanced multi-physics computational models that integrate thermal, structural and shielding considerations. Since 2013, Professor Hadj-Nacer has developed and experimentally validated CFD methods to model SNF packages under storage, transport and vacuum drying conditions. He also has developed innovative monitoring systems for SNF canisters and advanced durable and resilient materials for SNF dry storage systems. Hadj-Nacer earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees from Aix-Marseille University in France.
Testimonial:
“The Introduction to Nuclear Packaging course was an incredibly valuable experience that combined foundational knowledge of nuclear materials transport with practical skills in engineering analysis. What made the course stand out was the integration of Ansys instruction, which gave me experience in modeling and simulations. Through a series of homework assignments and a final project, I learned how to use Ansys Fluent to evaluate the thermal performance of nuclear packaging. The course provided me with a clear understanding of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulatory framework, packaging design principles and commercial nuclear practices — all while building my confidence in using industry-standard simulation tools. The professor was knowledgeable, approachable and always available to help me when I needed it. This course offers an excellent blend of theory and application for the nuclear packaging field, and I would recommend it for those seeking to work in any nuclear discipline.”
— Maureen Searles, nuclear facility safety engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
For more information, contact mhadjnacer@unr.edu or (775) 682-7480.