Here are several potential topics for a final project in nuclear engineering. Each topic can be tailored to align with your specific interests or course requirements:
Advanced Reactor Designs
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Assess the feasibility and deployment strategies for SMRs in developing countries.
- Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs): Investigate the advantages and challenges of MSRs for sustainable energy production.
- Fast Breeder Reactors: Study their potential for fuel efficiency and waste minimization.
Nuclear Safety and Risk Assessment
- Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA): Develop a PRA model for a specific nuclear facility.
- Severe Accident Analysis: Simulate scenarios involving loss of coolant or core meltdown and propose mitigation strategies.
- Cybersecurity in Nuclear Power Plants: Evaluate the vulnerabilities and countermeasures in modern digital control systems.
Nuclear Waste Management
- Spent Fuel Reprocessing: Analyze the economic and environmental impact of reprocessing technologies.
- Geological Disposal: Investigate the suitability of various geological formations for long-term waste storage.
- Transmutation of Nuclear Waste: Explore methods to reduce the half-life of high-level waste.
Fusion Energy
- Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF): Study the role of advanced materials in improving tokamak performance.
- Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF): Model the dynamics of laser-target interactions in fusion systems.
- Fusion Reactor Design: Conceptualize a next-generation fusion reactor with enhanced energy output.
Computational Modeling and Simulation
- Monte Carlo Methods: Apply Monte Carlo techniques to neutron transport simulations.
- Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling: Simulate the thermal performance of a nuclear reactor core under varying conditions.
- Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Systems: Develop AI algorithms for reactor monitoring and fault detection.
Radiation and Health Physics
- Radiation Shielding Design: Optimize materials and geometries for radiation protection in medical or industrial applications.
- Dose Assessment: Evaluate the health risks associated with exposure to low-dose radiation.
- Radionuclide Transport: Model the movement of radionuclides in the environment following a release.
Policy and Economics
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Analyze the effectiveness of international treaties and safeguards.
- Economic Viability of Nuclear Power: Compare nuclear energy costs with other renewable energy sources.
- Public Perception of Nuclear Energy: Investigate strategies to improve public acceptance and trust.
Emerging Technologies
- Nuclear Batteries: Study the potential applications of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) in remote areas.
- Additive Manufacturing in Nuclear Engineering: Explore how 3D printing can revolutionize reactor component fabrication.
- Space Nuclear Power Systems: Evaluate the design challenges for nuclear reactors in space missions.
