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Nuclear Reactor Simulator

dalton-nrs.manchester.ac.uk

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Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#61

Post by tiffanyg »

ok_dad wrote: post #55
tiffanyg wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you so much for sharing that! Beautiful / elegant and simple! It's been decades since I looked at any of the details involved in any of the various types of reactors that have been designed. When I did, in the past, I hadn't even encountered concepts like "control theory" or spent any time with the subject matter of "systems engineering" or even "chemical engineering". I.e., areas where you start thinking about…

The Chernobyl disaster was partly because the design was graphite moderated, which does not have the safety that water does since it’s not self regulating due to the GPs explanation about that above. When the reactor started to go supercritical, it was reinforced by the moderator working better to create more neutrons, the opposite of what you’d want.

Excellent point - you are 100% correct, parent comment etc. were specifically about water-moderated types.

I was too grabbed by some of the later description and just connected it somewhat haphazardly to not very organized or accurate info rattling around in my head from years ago.

Thanks for pointing that out!

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#62

Post by djmips »

dctoedt wrote: post #19

No time to check this out now, but I'll be interested in reactions from my fellow (ex) Navy nukes ....

I have a friend who was a 'Navy nuke' but was discharged for wiring up the superbowl for the crew while on duty. You don't see THAT in the simulators!

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#63

Post by paulnpace »

ok_dad wrote: post #55
tiffanyg wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you so much for sharing that! Beautiful / elegant and simple! It's been decades since I looked at any of the details involved in any of the various types of reactors that have been designed. When I did, in the past, I hadn't even encountered concepts like "control theory" or spent any time with the subject matter of "systems engineering" or even "chemical engineering". I.e., areas where you start thinking about…

The Chernobyl disaster was partly because the design was graphite moderated, which does not have the safety that water does since it’s not self regulating due to the GPs explanation about that above. When the reactor started to go supercritical, it was reinforced by the moderator working better to create more neutrons, the opposite of what you’d want.

Additionally, they were ordered to disable all safety mechanisms and run the reactor in a known unsafe condition, causing a massive long-term disaster in... the Ukraine.

The way I attempt to explain the difference between the negative and positive coefficient of reactivity is it's like one car accelerates by pressing the gas pedal and the other car has an engine running WFO and all you ever do is press the brake pedal. It isn't a perfect analogy, but I think it gets the general concept across.

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#64

Post by Ericson2314 »

niekze wrote: post #41

Former US Navy submarine nuclear reactor operator here. Adjusting the steam output was kind of strange. On a submarine, the steam used to propel the submarine dwarfs all the other steam loads. As a result, there's a throttleman who controls that. Even though this simulation is simplified, it's not too bad. It does hide some of the really interesting aspects of a water cooled/moderated nuclear reactor. The most intere…

I know land vs sea is different, but after decades of nuclear submarines working beautifully it's just so sad to me we don't have abundant SMRs by now.

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#65

Post by J5892 »

Buttons840 wrote: post #37

This reminds me of a game idea I have. I want to build a game where players assemble various components into engines or systems. Building the required system is itself a bit of a puzzle, but then players must also demonstrate that they can control the system using sensors and switches, etc, despite failures of various components. Can you build a reactor? If something breaks, can you figure out what broke using the se…

It's not really similar to your idea, but your idea unlocked a memory of playing Gizmos and Gadgets as a kid.

Edit: So I decided to go and play it on an online archive site. It's just as fun as I remember.

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#66

Post by exabrial »

Ericson2314 wrote: post #64
niekze wrote: post #41

Former US Navy submarine nuclear reactor operator here. Adjusting the steam output was kind of strange. On a submarine, the steam used to propel the submarine dwarfs all the other steam loads. As a result, there's a throttleman who controls that. Even though this simulation is simplified, it's not too bad. It does hide some of the really interesting aspects of a water cooled/moderated nuclear reactor. The most intere…

I know land vs sea is different, but after decades of nuclear submarines working beautifully it's just so sad to me we don't have abundant SMRs by now.

Agree... although I do believe part of the problem is that a lot of US Naval reactors run on weapons grade uranium. Someone here probably knows more about this.

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#67

Post by spydum »

Buttons840 wrote: post #37

This reminds me of a game idea I have. I want to build a game where players assemble various components into engines or systems. Building the required system is itself a bit of a puzzle, but then players must also demonstrate that they can control the system using sensors and switches, etc, despite failures of various components. Can you build a reactor? If something breaks, can you figure out what broke using the se…

I mean that's kind of what some security CTFs are built this way. They build a working system/application with some flaws, and you find them and break them. Sometimes in the more advanced CTFs like NetWars, you have to also fix the flaws and defend against your competitors.

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#68

Post by 39 »

niekze wrote: post #41

Former US Navy submarine nuclear reactor operator here. Adjusting the steam output was kind of strange. On a submarine, the steam used to propel the submarine dwarfs all the other steam loads. As a result, there's a throttleman who controls that. Even though this simulation is simplified, it's not too bad. It does hide some of the really interesting aspects of a water cooled/moderated nuclear reactor. The most intere…

Dope explanation!

Re: Nuclear Reactor Simulator

#70

Post by alyandon »

djmips wrote: post #56
alyandon wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was that the one where you had to perform maintenance on the heat exchanger and coolant loops to prevent fouling?

Yes, planning maintenance out into the future was a huge part of mastering the sim.

What an awesome game that was - even more awesome to know there are people that remember it. :-D
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