Virtual analog of Uranium-Grafite Subcritical Assembly (UGSA)
Virtual analog prototype
For many years, students of MEPhI have been studying at unique experimental facilities. One of these stands is an installation for determining the material parameter of the uranium-graphite lattice. The facility is an assembly of graphite blocks with holes into which rods containing natural uranium are inserted. Also, the assembly has additional holes for the input of the neutron source and neutron radiation detector.
At the uranium-graphite assembly of MEPhI, students perform laboratory work "Experimental determination of the material parameter of the uranium-graphite lattice", the purpose of which is to determine the material parameter of the environment.
Experimental facilities with nuclear materials are expensive and must undergo complex certification procedures to be usable. The virtual analogue allows you to carry out laboratory work even in the absence of a real assembly, which makes it possible to significantly expand laboratory work at much lower costs, taking into account the preservation of all competencies obtained during laboratory work.
Virtual analogue of 2009 year
The previous version of the virtual analogue of the subcritical assembly is a two-dimensional program written in Delphi, which allows you to change the pitch of the square lattice and the percentage of uranium enrichment (which is impossible in a real subcritical assembly) and measure the axial distribution of the neutron flux density along the central axis. The values of the neutron flux density, which are displayed to the user as a measurement result, both in the previous version of the virtual analogue of the subcritical assembly and in the virtual reality version, were obtained during the simulation of the subcritical assembly in the MCU program.
A two-dimensional version of the virtual analog can be found here.
Uranium-graphite assembly in virtual reality
In 2018, a virtual analogue of a uranium-graphite assembly using virtual reality technologies was created within the framework of a joint project with Rosatom "Creation of virtual analogues of elements of nuclear facilities for personnel training".
The virtual analogue is a complex of interactive models that allow carrying out laboratory work on the experimental determination of the material parameter of the uranium-graphite lattice.
Laboratory work on a virtual uranium-graphite assembly can be carried out completely in accordance with real work on an experimental assembly.
Additional functionality
The virtual analog also provides additional opportunities for laboratory work:
- Measurement of radiation background radiation using a portable dosimeter;
- Measurement of the accumulated radiation dose during the laboratory work;
- Visualization of the distribution of the neutron flux in the uranium-graphite assembly;
- Visualization of the distribution of the radiation environment in the room.
Distribution of the neutron flux in the assembly
