Nuclear power plant control room simulator

Abstract

A system is provided for simulating an operating environment of a power plant control room (e.g., a nuclear power plant control room). The system may include a simulator configured to simulate the operating environment of the control room, and a simulation computer in communication with the simulator, wherein the simulation computer may he configured to perform a plurality of real-time calculations associated with modeling the operating environment of the control room. The simulator and the simulation computer may include only standard off-the-shelf components.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for simulating an operating environment of a power plant control room comprising:
 a simulator configured to simulate the operating environment of a power plant control room; and   a simulation computer in communication with the simulator, the simulation computer configured to perform a plurality of real-time calculations associated with modeling the operating environment of the power plant control room,   wherein the simulator and the simulation computer include only standard off-the-shelf components.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator is further configured to simulate the operating environment of a nuclear power plant control room. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator further comprises a Pico-ITX system based on a VIA PX1000G pico ITX motherboard. 
     
     
         1 . system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator further comprises a monitor configured to display information similar to information likely to be displayed in a power plant control room. 
     
     
         5 . The system of claim  4 , wherein the monitor comprises a standard video graphics array liquid crystal display monitor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator further comprises a Piezo. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator further comprises a keylock switch. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the key-lock switch further comprises a two-position switch associated with a mode of operation of the simulator. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator is configured to receive input from a user and to transmit the user input to the simulation computer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein in order to perform the plurality of calculations, the simulation computer is further configured to perform the plurality of calculations based at least in part on the user input. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the simulation computer is further configured to transmit one or more results of the plurality of calculations to the simulator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the simulator is further configured to generate an output to the user based at least in part on the one or more results. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator and the simulation computer are in communication via a category 6 (CAT6) cable. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator further comprises memory configured to store display and logic software developed based on Visual Basic.NET.