EEME exam topics


Candidates will have an option to share their screen to draw plots and/or equations using a drawing software of their choice.

Section A (Heat transfer and thermodynamics)

  1. The laws of thermodynamics. The notions of internal energy, heat, work, temperature and entropy
  2. Thermodynamic efficiency. Ideal thermodynamical Carnot cycle. The notions of EXERGY and ANERGY.
  3. Thermodynamic cycles:
    • a)  Rankine Cycle (including temperature-entropy plot for a theoretical and real case, methods of increasing its thermal efficiency, enthalpy definition, isentropic efficiency of turbine and pump definitions).
    • b)  Brayton Cycle (including temperature-entropy plot for a theoretical and real case, methods of increasing its thermal efficiency, thermal efficiency in terms of compressor pressure ratio and corresponding plot).
    • c)  Stirling cycle (including pressure-volume and temperature-entropy plot for a theoretical and real case, applications of Stirling cycles)
  4. Kinetic theory of gases. The notion of an ideal gas. Ideal gas thermodynamic processes and their properties. Real gas processes.
  5. The ways of heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation. Heat transfer in engines.

Literature:
Yunus A. Çengel, Michael A. Boles, Mehmet Kanoğlu, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, Ninth Edition, McGraw-Hill Education 2019;
J.P. Holman, Heat transfer, McGraw-Hill 2010.

Section B (Nuclear Engineering)

  1. The main components of pressurized water reactor (PWR) and their functions. Temperature and pressure conditions at the primary loop.
  2. Differences between pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR)
  3. Process of neutron moderation (slowing down). What is it, why is it important? Types of moderators in nuclear reactors.
  4. The definition of the effective neutron multiplication factor and its significance for nuclear reactor operation.
  5. Four factor formula for the neutron multiplication factor
  6. Prompt and delayed neutrons.
  7. How do we control power of the nuclear reactor?
  8. Temperature reactivity feedback mechanisms in nuclear reactors.
  9. Types of Generation IV reactors and their main characteristics. Non-water coolants and their advantages.

Literature:
J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Barratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, Pearson 2018.

Section C (Energy Systems and Environment)

  1. Definition of sustainable development and comparison of different energy sources from the point of view of sustainability.
  2. Define your own criteria for assessing impact of different energy generation technologies on environment and human health and wellbeing.
  3. Co-generation and/or polygeneration of energy. Assess existing solutions and sketch a strategy for the future.
  4. Used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management strategies.
  5. Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases on Earth. Simple model for Earth’s radiative energy balance (assume single layer atmosphere absorbing some of Earth surface’s emitted infrared radiation, uniform albedo, uniform temperature for the planet surface and uniform temperature for atmosphere).

Literature:
Egbert Boeker, Rienk van Grondelle, Environmental Physics: Sustainable Energy and Climate Change, Wiley (2011);
Henryk Anglart, Introduction to Sustainable Energy Transformation, CRC Press (2022)