MELCOR/VISOR PWR Desktop Simulator for Accident Analysis and Training

A desktop simulator of the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) for training of the accident response has been created under the contract of the Dutch nuclear regulatory body (KFD). The desktop simulator is a software package that provides a simulation of the two-loop PWR. It uses the nuclear accident analysis code MELCOR as a computational tool and the visualization tool VISOR as a graphical user interface. The simulator is a realistic model of the plant, mimicking the behaviour of the plant including control and safety systems, and response to user’s actions. Its graphical user interface is user friendly and it displays the coloured mimic of the primary system, containment and the secondary system. The status of important parameters and colour-coded values are displayed on the screen as a part of the plant mimic. Furthermore, parameters of interest can also be shown as a function of time. It can simulate a steady-state run of the power plant and also a variety of accident conditions in auto or interactive mode allowing the user to interfere with the transient, change conditions and analyse the response of the simulator to the interference. The simulator will be used for training of the KFD staff in order to increase the insight in accident progressions. The training will include the use of measures and strategies applied in the Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) and the Severe Accident Management Guidelines (SAMGs).