Research support for reliable and safe nuclear power plant operation, specialist education and the study of advanced reactor systems.
The centre’s objectives
- Research to improve the reliability and safety of operating nuclear power plants and support safety assessments for advanced reactor systems.
- Involving students, researchers and academic staff in research and applying its results in teaching.
- Education and professional development for nuclear-sector specialists and academic staff.
- Training in nuclear safety analysis codes and multifunctional simulators.
Modelling and analysis
The centre uses nuclear safety analysis tools including RELAP5, MELCOR, CONTAIN and SAPHIRE. WSC’s 3KEYMASTER platform supports models and simulators for thermal-hydraulic, neutron-physical, electrical and chemical processes.
The published description of the teaching facilities includes two unit models: a VVER-1000/V-320 unit at Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and a generic 1400 MW pressurised water reactor, Generic PWR.
The training simulator
Individual and group learning
Twelve student-operator workstations, instructor and technician stations, servers and large displays for collaborative work.
Three operating modes
Operator and instructor modes for teaching, and a developer mode for modelling plant equipment and systems.
Intellectual Training System
Lesson-building tools combine theory, assessment questions and practical tasks on a simulated main control room.
Examples of training scenarios
- Main steam line break.
- Primary circuit leak into containment.
- Failure of two turbine-driven feedwater pumps.
- Physics experiments at the minimum controlled power level.
- Power increase from the minimum controlled level to rated output.
Teaching applications
Laboratory work and computer practicals cover nuclear power plant turbines, coolant technology, pumps and auxiliary equipment, nuclear reactors, nuclear and thermal power plants, thermal-hydraulic processes, operation and diagnostics of steam turbines, steam generators and heat exchangers, transient processes and control of nuclear steam supply systems.
Other applications include the principles of nuclear power plant operation, automatic control, turbine monitoring and regulation, operating modes, neutron-physical diagnostics, abnormal conditions and safety. Generic PWR includes training modules on ITS, human-machine interaction, the primary circuit, power control, generators and electrical systems, heat exchange, feedwater pumps, turbine start-up and reactor protection.
Teaching facilities
