Present nuclear power plants make use of robust plant simulators capable of simulating the plant operation. In addition, these plant simulators are able to model possible accidents that could occur in a real situation. In this way operators can be instructed and acquire all the skills that they are going to need in the development of their job. Of course we are talking about “fission” nuclear power plants.
But what about “fusion” nuclear power plants? Although ITER is intended to be an experimental plant (not connected to the electrical grid) there will be an all-in-one plant simulator. By precisely mimicking the behaviour of the scientific installation in both normal and incidental conditions, it will help validate all foreseen operational scenarios. It will also support the development of operating procedures and instructions and, of course, serve as a training platform for future operators.
It is a big challenge, as the physics underlying plasma and fusion technology covers a wide range. Some processes occur in very different time scales, ranging from microseconds to slow-evolving dynamics.
There exists individual codes to simulate many of these phenomena, the difficulty lies on coupling them for an all-in-one plant simulator as stated by Ryuji Yoshino head of the Operation Management Section/Division and former plasma operator at the Japanese tokamak JT-60 – “we are not starting from scratch. We already have several individual simulators (for plasma, cryogenics, cooling water, etc.) and a few more are in development. The aim now is to have them all in one.”
This ITER plant simulator is intended to be ready in 6 years approximately.
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