S3R uses the same high-precision methods as the Studsvik core modeling and transient analysis software, increasing fidelity to the plant response and decreasing the risk of unphysical results.Because S3R models each fuel assembly and all instrumentation explicitly in three dimensions, operators can train on a model that exactly matches the plant conditions. It is now possible for an operator to go through reactivity manipulations on the simulator, instead of the plant, during initial licensing training.
Cycle Updating
Performing cycle updates using older generation core models can be tedious and time consuming because of the data manipulation and initial condition maintenance.
S3R provides a solution to both challenges, reducing the effort required to keep the simulator up-to-date. Each time the core model is updated by the core designers, S3R acquires all needed data directly from the output of SIMULATE with no intermediate steps or linking tools. No tuning or normalization is required to get accurate results. Since S3R reads the same restart and library files used by SIMULATE, updating the simulator does not significantly increase the workload on the core analysis or fuels organization.
S3R also maintains a set of predefined initial conditions that can be reused from cycle-to-cycle, without having to maneuver the simulator each time. The cycle conversion algorithm converts all equilibrium initial conditions to the new cycle, drastically reducing simulator maintenance time.