Rancor Microworld Simulation Environment for Nuclear Process Control

Abstract

The Rancor Microworld is a simplified nuclear power plant simulator. It represents the process of an integrated pressurized light water reactor core with a secondary Rankine cycle turbine/generator. The reactor core is governed by simplified core physics. Operators have the ability to raise and lower control rods to change the reactivity and consequently generate more or less electricity. The microworld provides a digital human machine interface for operating and monitoring the plant efficiently to maximize profits within the simulation. The simulation supports multi-unit operations analogous to small modular reactor plants and supports faults on various components within each unit to simulate some common training scenarios such as reactor and turbine trip events. The microworld includes experimental modules to log process parameters and both automated and user control inputs and events, administer situation awareness probes, and interface with eye tracking software.