A Graded Approach to Simulators: Feature Requirements Mapping to Simulator Types for Nuclear Plant Control Room Research Use Cases

Simulators function as test platforms for validating a broad spectrum of nuclear power plant operations. This spectrum encompasses tasks ranging from updating existing control rooms to fundamentally designing new ones, incorporating innovative operational concepts. The Simulator Feature Framework introduces a generic list of features to ensure that future simulators facilitate research endeavors that cater to both immediate plant modernization needs and the future deployment of advanced reactors (Gideon and Ulrich, 2023). Conducting research via control room simulators requires different simulator types, each varying in fidelity. Integrating the complete set of features outlined in the Simulator Feature Framework into all simulator types could escalate acquisition costs and decrease their commercial appeal for research purposes. A nuanced strategy is required to align simulator types with specific features that adequately underpin the intended research applications. This paper maps five simulator types to the feature categories within the Simulator Feature Framework. By connecting feature categories with simulator types, simulator vendors can incorporate capabilities suitable for distinct simulator tasks without obligatory inclusion of all features. This graded approach harmonizes the cost of simulator acquisition with the anticipated research benefits. Moreover, this alignment equips researchers with a foundational standard for assessing simulators' compatibility with research objectives across varying levels of fidelity. Two use cases are provided to consider simulators for advanced control room development and human reliability analysis data.