VR Fuel Movement Simulator for Portable BWR Refueling Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
It has become increasingly difficult to gather teams for off-site training before a boiling water reactor (BWR) refueling outage due to challenges in assembling experienced personnel, necessitating effective training and team building for new or less experienced personnel.
Innovation Solution
A fuel movement simulator system that integrates a physical environment, such as a refueling mast and cab, within a virtual environment, allowing trainers to interact and enhance training efficacy through a virtual reality (VR) system and a fuel movement simulator assembly with a replica mast and control console.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If off-site training facilities are used for BWR refueling training, then training quality and team building are improved, but logistical challenges and difficulty in gathering personnel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a portable replica of the actual refueling environment including a scaled-down reactor vessel, fuel assemblies, and control systems that can be transported to various locations. This copying approach maintains training fidelity while eliminating the need for fixed off-site facilities, resolving the contradiction between training quality and logistical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The training system is designed to be dynamically deployable and reconfigurable, allowing it to be set up at different locations as needed. The portable nature and modular construction enable the system to adapt to various training venues, transforming a static facility requirement into a dynamic, mobile solution
2Productivity
If new personnel replace experienced personnel, then workforce continuity is maintained, but training requirements and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables new personnel to perform preliminary training actions in a realistic but controlled environment before working with actual reactor systems. The portable simulator allows trainees to practice refueling procedures, emergency responses, and equipment operations in advance, reducing safety risks when they transition to real plant operations
Solution Approach 2:
The portable training system serves as an intermediary between theoretical classroom instruction and actual plant operations. It provides a middle ground where new personnel can gain hands-on experience with refueling procedures and equipment without the full safety risks of working with live reactor systems, bridging the gap between knowledge and competent practice
3Ease of operation
If portable training equipment is used, then travel requirements are reduced, but training realism and immersion may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating essential training elements into a compact portable unit. Rather than attempting to replicate an entire plant, the system focuses on reproducing the critical local environment of the refueling area including the reactor vessel interior, fuel assemblies, and control mechanisms, maintaining realism where it matters most while enabling portability
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~3
AI summary
A fuel movement simulator system includes a virtual reality (VR) system configured to generate a virtual refuel floor environment; and a fuel movement simulator assembly configured to provide a physical interface to the virtual refuel floor environment, the fuel movement simulator assembly including a replica mast, a replica control console connected to the replica mast, and a support structure configured to support the replica mast and replica control console.