Software for Nuclear Power Plant Operation Simulation/Analysis?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the availability of software for the operation simulation and analysis of nuclear power plants, specifically pressurized water reactors (PWR) and liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR). Participants are seeking alternatives to safety analysis software like RELAP and TRAC, focusing instead on operational simulation tools.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about software options for nuclear power plant operation simulation, emphasizing a need for tools beyond safety analysis software.
  • One participant mentions that for fast reactors, most software is likely specific to research reactors, which may use plant-specific simulators.
  • For light water reactors (LWRs), both vendor codes and independent codes like SIMULATE from StudsvikScandpower are suggested as potential tools.
  • Thermal hydraulics and safety analysis software options mentioned include VIPRE, RETRAN, and COBRA-IIIC, with suggestions to consider CFD codes like STAR-CCM/STAR-CD or ANSYS-CFX for more ambitious projects.
  • Another participant notes that developing such simulation software typically requires significant manhours and is often an evolutionary process from previous work, indicating that free software is unlikely to be available.
  • Concerns are raised about the rigorous quality assurance required for such software, with costs potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • One participant questions whether manufacturers provide operational software with reactor delivery, suggesting that a standardized package might be beneficial for customers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a lack of consensus on the availability and development of operational simulation software, with some believing that such software is not readily available and others questioning the practices of reactor manufacturers regarding software provision.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the development of operational simulation software is complex and resource-intensive, with specific dependencies on reactor types and operational requirements. There is also uncertainty regarding the extent to which manufacturers provide operational software.

law&theorem
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Are there some kind of software for nuclear power plant (PWR and other plant type like LMFBR) operation simulation/analysis software, not safety analysis software like RELAP and TRAC ?
If you know, please tell me !
 
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law&theorem said:
Are there some kind of software for nuclear power plant (PWR and other plant type like LMFBR) operation simulation/analysis software, not safety analysis software like RELAP and TRAC ?
If you know, please tell me !

Nobody knows that ?
 
law&theorem said:
Are there some kind of software for nuclear power plant (PWR and other plant type like LMFBR) operation simulation/analysis software, not safety analysis software like RELAP and TRAC ?
If you know, please tell me !
In what kind of software is one interested? For fast reactors, most are reasearch reactors and they probably use a plant specific simulator.

For LWRs (both PWR and BWR), there are vendor codes, and there are independent codes like SIMULATE from StudsvikScandpower. Ostensibly, if one does the lattice code for a fast spectrum and fast reactor geometry, then one could simulate a fast reactor with a code like simulate.

For thermal hydraulics and safety analysis, there are VIPRE and RETRAN, or one can use COBRA-IIIC or some derivative.

If one is ambitious, one could try a CFD code like STAR-CCM/STAR-CD (CD-Adapco) or ANSYS-CFX.
 
Astronuc said:
In what kind of software is one interested? For fast reactors, most are reasearch reactors and they probably use a plant specific simulator.

For LWRs (both PWR and BWR), there are vendor codes, and there are independent codes like SIMULATE from StudsvikScandpower. Ostensibly, if one does the lattice code for a fast spectrum and fast reactor geometry, then one could simulate a fast reactor with a code like simulate.

For thermal hydraulics and safety analysis, there are VIPRE and RETRAN, or one can use COBRA-IIIC or some derivative.

If one is ambitious, one could try a CFD code like STAR-CCM/STAR-CD (CD-Adapco) or ANSYS-CFX.

Thank you for your reply.
I'm interested in fast reactor power plant's operation software, especially the operation mode simulation software and thermal/ analysis software.
 
Really there isn't software like that laying around on the internet for free. People (or companies) that want / need such software write it themselves or pay someone to write it. I don't really know about fast reactor designs, but for LWRs, plant simulation software typically takes thousands of manhours to put together, and normally is an evolutionary development of previous work that may have taken tens of thousands of hours. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're looking for.
 
gmax137 said:
Really there isn't software like that laying around on the internet for free. People (or companies) that want / need such software write it themselves or pay someone to write it. I don't really know about fast reactor designs, but for LWRs, plant simulation software typically takes thousands of manhours to put together, and normally is an evolutionary development of previous work that may have taken tens of thousands of hours. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're looking for.
That's really a key/critical point. Not only do such software take tens of thousands of manhours to develop and maintain, the software as to be developed, maintained and applied under a rigorous QA program. Such software packages can cost $100k's.

Likely, such software for a fast reactor is unique to the particular fast reactor, e.g., EBR-I, EBR-II, FFTF, Phenix, BN-350, BN-600, . . .
 
Wouldn't the manufacturers of the reactors include operations software upon delivery? I'd think they'd have a vested interest to deliver a standardized package rather than letting every customer write their own.

Or am I missing something?
 

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