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Digital Twin Framework for the Resilient Remote Monitoring and Operation of Nuclear Microreactors

Journal Article · · AHFE International
DOI:https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1004400· OSTI ID:2352667
The nuclear industry is developing new advanced reactor technologies, and many companies are conceptualizing designs for microreactors, a class of nuclear reactor with a sub-20 MWth power output designed to be factory fabricated, easily transportable, and simple to control. Microreactors offer promising solutions to several use cases for which large-scale plants would not be suitable, and conventional power generation means, notably diesel electric generators, are expensive and logistically difficult. Many of the potential use cases are in isolated locations such as arctic communities, remote mines, and military installations. Therefore, the cost of microreactor deployment and traditional onsite operations pose a challenge that requires new technical solutions to address. One solution that has the potential to greatly improve economics is to operate and monitor microreactors remotely from a centralized location. Remote monitoring and operation are novel concepts to the nuclear industry and will greatly alter the tasks and responsibilities associated with current commercial nuclear power plant operators. As such, it is important to perform research on potential technological solutions and the impacts those solutions have on operations with end-goal of defining a safe and effective remote concept of operations. This paper proposes a framework for resilient remote operation of microreactors enabled by a novel digital twin implementation.
Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517
OSTI ID:
2352667
Report Number(s):
INL/CON--23-72922-Revision-1
Journal Information:
AHFE International, Journal Name: AHFE International Journal Issue: - Vol. 117; ISSN 2771-0718
Publisher:
AHFE InternationalCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English