Nuclear Power Plant Simulators for Education
IAEA Collection of PC-Based Simulators for Education
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established a programme in nuclear reactor simulation computer programs to assist Member States in education and training. The objective is to provide, for a variety of advanced water-cooled reactor types, insight and practice in their operational characteristics and their response to perturbations and accident situations. To achieve this, the IAEA arranges for the supply or development of simulation programs and training material, sponsors training courses and workshops, and distributes documentation and computer programs.
Currently the IAEA has simulation programs available for distribution that simulate the behaviour of the following reactor types:
- Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
- Passive Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
- CANDU Reactor: Introduction to CANDU and User Manual
- Advanced CANDU Reactor
- Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
- Passive Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
- WWER-1000
These desktop simulator codes provide insight and understanding of the designs as well as a clear understanding of the operational characteristics of the various reactor types. The simulators operate on personal computers and are provided for a broad audience of technical and non-technical personnel as an introductory educational tool. The preferred audience, however, are faculty members interested in developing nuclear engineering courses with the support of these very effective hands-on educational tools. The application of the simulator programs is limited to providing general response characteristics of selected types of power reactor systems and they are not intended to be used for plant-specific purposes such as design, safety evaluation, licensing or operator training.
These simulators, including the associated documentation, are distributed at no cost to interested parties in IAEA Member States. Furthermore, the IAEA sponsors training courses and workshops on a regular basis, and would also be willing to support additional training events on this topic at the request of Member States. To request the simulators please fill out this simulator request form. The completed form should be sent to the competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Atomic Energy Authority, or to the applicant's Member State Permanent Mission to the IAEA in Vienna, Austria) for transmission to Ms. S. Bilbao y Leon, the International Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 100, Vienna International Centre, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
Feedback on the use of these simulators would be appreciated
and should be sent to Ms. S. Bilbao Y Leon
Workshops on PC-Based Simulator for Education
Since 1997, fourteen workshops have been held, in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Italy, USA and at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The workshops are currently a biennial activity sponsored by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
The most recent workshop took place from 12 October to 23 October 2009 at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
For information about the next scheduled workshop and to inquire about the possibility of organizing an IAEA workshop on this topic at your institution, please contact Ms. S. Bilbao Y Leon
Download the simulator request form