ECTS - University of Pisa
The students successfully completing this course will acquire solid knowledge on nuclear fusion reactions and their adoption in magnetic and inertial confinement configurations for power production, as a source of future energy. Advanced knowledge will be achieved on Tokamak machine, with a detailed understanding of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor main components and auxiliary systems.
During an oral interview, the students will be assessed on their ability to properly discuss the course topics using appropriate terminology. Moreover, the capability to summarize and compare fundamental principles of the course contents will be evaluated
The following main skills are provided by the course:
During an oral interview, the skills acquired by the students will be assessed, evaluating the comprehension degree and capability to connect different topic of the course
Students will acquire and/or develop an awareness on peaceful exploitation of nuclear fusion energy source. Students will acquire sensibility and understanding of complex plant systems, on the basis of the studied ITER configuration
The oral interview will ascertain the personal attitude of the student by proposing questions and problems related to fusion reaction engineering
Basic knowledge and skills of Mathematics, Physics and Electromagnetism at BSc level. Capabilities to understand plant schemes and assembly of components
Front and distance (live online by Microsoft Teams) lessons, with the help of slides and movies
The course covers the following topics:
The main teaching material is constituted of slides presented during the lectures, available as PDF file through Microsoft Teams. More details can be found in the following textbooks:
Jeffrey P. Freidberg, “Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy”, 1st edition 2008, Cambridge University Press;
A. A. Harms, K. F. Schoepf, G. H. Miley and D. R. Kingdon, “Principles of Fusion Energy”, June 2000, World Scientific.
There are not variations (about program, exam, bibliography etc.) for non-attending students.
Lectures will be provided live by Microsoft Teams platform, at the "Team" dedicated to this course: 417II 21/22 "Engineering of Fusion Reactors". The slides of the lectures, in .pdf format, will be uploaded in the “File” section of the Course Team.
The student preparation will be evaluated during one oral test. It consists of an interview between the candidate and exam commission (of which the lecturer is the president). During the oral test the candidate could be requested to also solve written problems/exercises in front of the commission.
The exam is considered passed if the student provides a sufficiently correct answer to the proposed questions.
It is not possible to pass the test if the candidate shows an inability to express him/herself in a clear manner using the correct terminology, or if the candidate does not respond sufficiently to questions regarding the most fundamental part of the course. The test will not have a positive outcome if the candidate repeatedly demonstrates an incapacity to relate and link parts of the programme with notions and ideas that he/her must combine in order to correctly respond to a question
It is not necessary to pass intermediate tests, completed educational projects, follow seminar or lab activities for attending the exam.
Stages, internships and collaborations with third parts are not required for this course
For any further information contact the teacher at the email alessio.pesetti@unipi.it
