The NEA organised the second International School on Simulation of Nuclear Reactor Systems (SINUS) on the topic of Reactor single- and multi-physics simulations based on Light Water Reactor (LWR) Uncertainty Analysis in Modeling (UAM) benchmark. Targeting students and young professionals in the nuclear sector, the course brought together the next generation of experts with the expert community from the NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues and Uncertainty Analysis of Reactor Systems (WPRS).
The event was jointly developed by North Carolina State University (NSCU), the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the NEA WPRS. The in-person part was co-located with the BEPU 2024 conference and the WPRS Benchmarks Workshops 2024 hosted by NINE Nuclear and Industrial Engineering (N.IN.E) in Lucca, Italy.
The technical content of the training sessions was based on the LWR UAM benchmark. It followed the specifications of the benchmark for selected benchmark exercises from the three phases of the benchmark. The scope was on quantifying and propagating relevant significant uncertainties through different single physics and multi-physics modeling and simulation of nuclear reactor cores using the Pressurised Water Reactor test cases.
The trainings included practical exercises with state-of-the-art reactor simulation packages, which were provided by the NEA Data Bank and RSICC.
The course featured lectures by NCSU staff members, as well as internationally renowned experts from the WPRS and its expert groups. The SINUS training sessions tookl place in a hybrid format.
SINUS provided an opportunity to develop a multinational network with fellow participants and international experts, and to learn more about this challenging and innovative subject.
The SINUS consists of remote and in-person trainings.
The remote training included approximately 25 hours of online lectures and exercise sessions. The practical exercises were based on examples taken from the Benchmark for LWR-UAM of WPRS, and focused on quantifying and propagating relevant significant uncertainties through different single physics and multi-physics modelling and simulation of nuclear reactor cores using the PWR test cases. The course also featured homework assignments and computer projects for participant teams to be completed and presented during the in-person sessions.
Five virtual training sessions:
Participants received project assigments in which they practised the application of reactor simulation packages. Results of the project work were presented during the in-person meeting in Lucca, Italy.
The NEA organised the in-person training of the International School on Simulation of Nuclear Reactor Systems (SINUS) on 20-22 May 2024. The in-person part were co-located with the BEPU 2024 conference and the WPRS Benchmarks Workshops 2024 hosted by NINE Nuclear and Industrial Engineering (N.IN.E) in Lucca, Italy. An ENEN# Group Mobility Support fund by the European Union covered the travel costs of 20 participants.
The course was open to advanced Master’s students, PhD students, or young professionals with a Master’s or PhD degrees in nuclear engineering, reactor physics, nuclear physics, and related disciplines. Requirements:
Participants were selected based on eligibility and excellence, considering geographical, and gender balance aspects. The selection process was based on applicant's motivation letters and educational track records.
The proposed committee for selecting the students included high-level experts in the field of reactor physics: the Chair of WPRS, the Chairs of the NEA Expert Group on Reactor Multiphysics (EGMUP), and the Head of the NEA Division for Nuclear Science and Education. The selection process was supported by the NEA Secretariat.
The training material development was co-ordinated by the NCSU. RSICC and the NEA Data Bank supported the distribution of the required software. An ENEN# Group Mobility Support fund by the European Union covered the travel costs of 20 participants, and N.IN.E. (Nuclear and Industrial Engineering) hosted and supported the in-person event in Lucca, Italy.
Training material was distributed on a MyNEA SharePoint Page (access only for lecturers and trainees).
WPRS Secretariat: Oliver BUSS
wprs@oecd-nea.org
