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The PWR Systems and Operations with Simulator Course will prepare the successful student to describe integrated pressurized water reactor plant operations, and relate it to how his job affects nuclear safety and plant performance. This course is intended for nuclear utility and supplier personnel who need a basic knowledge of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) systems, operation and fundamentals. For non-Westinghouse nuclear industry personnel, no prerequisite is required, but background in basic engineering and science is helpful.
Consistent with the Nuclearning® Educational Model, the PWR Systems and Operation with Simulator Course incorporates numerous student-centered learning activities to help the student learn and remember the concepts being studied. This approach puts the student at the center of the learning process making him an active participant in all learning activities. Specifically, this course incorporates instructor facilitated discussions, classroom and simulator exercises, simulator demonstrations of normal, abnormal and accident operational scenarios, and hands-on main control room simulator operations.
The PWR Systems and Operation with Simulator Course allows students to gain a working knowledge of nuclear power plant systems and operations. Students dedicate a full week of study to a combination of classroom and hands-on learning using a PWR control room simulator. This provides the student with a valuable opportunity to learn about PWR systems and then see the effect of plant equipment manipulations, plant parameter changes, malfunctions and accidents on the operation of the plant.
The PWR Systems and Operation with Simulator Course is five (5) days (40 hours) in length. Since interactivity is an integral part of the course, the maximum number of students should be held to twenty (20) or fewer.
Day 1
- Welcome and Introductions – Safety brief, introductions, course outline and objectives discussion
- PWR Introduction/Overview – Overview of major systems of a PWR and their functions
- Simulator Introduction – PWR control room layout, indications, crew locations and functions
- Introduction to Reactor Theory and Thermodynamics
Day 2
- Reactor Coolant System
- Chemical and Volume Control System
- Residual Heat Removal System
- Simulator Exercises – normal PWR plant operation demonstrations and exercises; predict the effect of various plant maneuvers on various plant parameters
Day 3
- Secondary (Balance of Plant) Systems
- Engineered Safety Features
- Simulator Exercises – Accident Analysis – students predict effects of various accidents on plant parameters
Day 4
- Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Systems – discussion the major I&C systems
- Three Mile Island Accident – discussion of the event and major lessons learned
- Equipment Mock Up Bay Tours – tour of major PWR equipment mock-ups (RCPs, SGs, RVH, associated field service equipment, etc)
Day 5
- Reactor Start-up Overview – reactor start-up theory and procedures
- Plant Operations – plant start-up from cold/refueling conditions to full power
- Simulator Exercises – students perform reactor start-up from source range at hot standby to power operations; accident demos
After Course Completion – Within One Week
- Written online exam* - A written examination will be used to test each student’s understanding of the course material. The examination questions are based on the learning objectives used in the course.
