Assessment of the Need for and Feasibility of Establishing a National Reactor Engineering Simulator Facility

摘要

A study was conducted by the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Power Systems to determine the need for and feasibility of establishing a reactor engineering simulator facility at a National Laboratory. Input was obtained from a wide cross section of the Nation's nuclear industry, the Department's National Laboratories, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in carrying out this study. Based on this input, the Department concludes that the proposed facility would not significantly contribute to the capability of the Nation's nuclear industry or the Department to foster research in generic design improvements and simplifications. Furthermore, the Department concludes that such a facility, although it is theoretically feasible, is not practical from an engineering viewpoint, and the significant national effort and expense, which would be required to develop, construct, and operate such a facility, is not justified. (ERA citation 07:046641)