State-of-the-art tools for the design of nuclear reactor cores

At TechnicAtome, the virtual reality room has been revamped to incorporate the most advanced technologies.

TechnicAtome pioneered this approach as early as 2010 by creating a virtual reality room at its Aix-en-Provence facility. The room has undergone several significant upgrades since then to continually improve the performance of the display and visualization of TA’s reactor core assemblies. Today, the virtual reality room is undergoing a major renovation to incorporate the latest technological advancements, including new display solutions and software.

TA’s teams use virtual reality to design nuclear power plant boiler rooms, which are unique and particularly complex industrial structures. Linked to computer-aided design (CAD) models, the technology allows users to immerse themselves in a representative digital model and move virtually on a 1:1 scale in 3D within the facilities. This tool enables design teams to better understand environmental constraints and validate their decisions. It also allows operational teams to prepare for assembly or maintenance operations by manipulating parts in 3D or rehearsing specific steps. Taking on the role of a virtual operator makes it possible to assess the feasibility of certain operations and the accessibility of a component. Finally, virtual reality also offers opportunities for training personnel in on-site interventions.

In addition to virtual reality, TechnicAtome uses a suite of engineering tools, including a physical simulation tool, its own software development platform, augmented reality, and scientific computing tools.