The International School on Simulation of Nuclear Reactor Systems (SINUS) provides hybrid, hands-on-training in nuclear reactor system’s modelling and simulation (M&S) and associated validation, verification and uncertainty qualification (VV&UQ) methodologies. It leverages the comprehensive expertise and data of the NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues and Uncertainty Analysis of Reactor Systems (WPRS) and utilises the software distributed by the NEA Data Bank.
Following the success of the pilot event in 2023, the NEA organised the second SINUS edition from 22 April to 23 May 2024. After a competitive application process, 34 trainees from 24 countries were selected to receive comprehensive hands-on training. The school programme began with 25 hours of online lectures delivered by WPRS experts during three consecutive weeks, which were followed by project work in small teams on reactor system single- and multi-physics problems related to the NEA Uncertainty Analysis for Modeling of Light Water Reactors (UAM-LWR) benchmark. The in-person part of the programme convened the trainees in Lucca, Italy, to receive additional training, engage in lively discussions on their project findings, and present the results to the WPRS experts during the UAM-LWR session of the WPRS Benchmarks Workshops.
As part of the training, trainees practiced with a state-of-the-art M&S software in Docker environment provided by the NEA Data Bank and the US Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC).
The development of the SINUS training programme was led by North Carolina State University (NCSU), and software licenses were granted by NCSU and RSICC. The European Union’s ENEN2Plus project provided mobility fund to cover travel expenses for 20 participants, and N.IN.E. (Nuclear and Industrial Engineering) hosted and supported the in-person event in Lucca, Italy.
More information about the third edition will be announced later this year.
