Training for infrequent maneuvers in nuclear power plant systems using virtual reality

Abstract

This article proposes a methodology to promote the training [1] of operators of a nuclear plant in the task of operating the oil pumps of the main cooling water system, without compromising the plant's operation and availability, effectively and close to reality, through of immersive training in Virtual Reality [2], using the program Unity 2018.3.10f1.

In order to define the main operations to be carried out on the oil pumps of the Main Cooling Water system, the following documents were consulted: the system operation manual, the system description, the system handout, the system flowchart, the sheet of logic, operational experience, as well as interviews with experienced operators and instructors. With all the information above, the main components were created in a virtual environment [2]: a main pump, such as oil pumps, pipes, pressure gauge and the electrical panel that allows maneuver between the oil pumps, as well as the characteristic noise of the environment. In the Figure 1 is showed the final result in the virtual environment. The main points to be observed according to the plant's operating manual, were highlighted (discharge pressure, operating time, number of oil pumps in operation, reset), and the following operational maneuvers were reproduced: Low efficiency of the oil pump , Oil pump locking, Manual switching with and without success, Automatic switching with and without success.