Phase 1

The aim of our phase 1 activity was to demonstrate that the concept of an Integrated Nuclear Digital Environment (INDE) is:

  • Feasible
  • Acceptable to the nuclear community
  • Sufficiently credible to develop and support a community of practice for the future
  • Able to position the UK as leading in Digital Reactor Design

Concept (INDE)

INDE aims to help nuclear industry exploit the benefits of Industry 4.0, it captures three important concepts relevant to the nuclear industry:

  1. Encouraging the acquisition, storage and processing of data seamlessly across the life-cycle
  2. Encouraging the application of multi-physics and multi-scale simulation to improve the fidelity of predictions
  3. The availability of the developments to decision makers to maximise the impact of these improvements.

By implementing digital tools in a software framework, the INDE has the potential to reduce costs throughout the nuclear lifecycle by improving efficiency and enabling collaboration across the supply chain. Ultimately, this has the potential to deliver a cultural change across the industry.

Project based on INDE concept developed by:

Eann Patterson – University of Liverpool
Richard Taylor – University of Manchester
Mark Bankhead – National Nuclear Laboratory

A framework for an integrated nuclear digital environment

Programme and outputs

1 Project management
Diagram showing the Digital Reactor Design – Project Structure

Digital Reactor Design – Project Structure

2 Requirements capture and management
Report defining requirements for Integrated Nuclear Digital Environment (INDE) – to be published.
3 Capability mapping
Report defining current UK and international nuclear and virtual engineering (VE) capabilities – to be published.
4 Defining pilot projects / use cases
Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) Use Case – Probabilistic Graphite Cracking Scenario
Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) Use Case – Control Rod Ejection Scenario
5 Architecture design

Specifies a digital framework which demonstrates a Virtual Engineering (VE) capability incorporating computational codes with the potential for ‘plug and play’ of different software applications

6 Integration of VE capabilities
Integration of tools for performing Virtual Engineering on use cases.
7 Integration / access to HPC
Develop and demonstrate the capability of using High Performance Computing within the digital framework.
8 Development of radiation simulation models
The integration of radiation and transport models and demonstration in Virtual Engineering.
9 Security and safety roadmap
Strategy for security and safety within an Integrated Nuclear Digital Environment (INDE).
10 Multi-physics, multi-scale use cases
Proof of concept using multi-scale, multi-physics simulation of through-life performance of reactor components.
11 Dissemination and supply chain / user engagement
Providing a wide range of engagement opportunities including the development of a stakeholder network.