A team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in collaboration with GE Vernova Hitachi and the University of Tennessee, has developed a risk-based digital twin to improve the performance and safety of small modular reactors (SMRs).<\/p>\n\n
This digital model, centered on the BWRX-300, makes it possible to anticipate failures through real-time probabilistic analysis, which contributes to more efficient operational management and a significant reduction in costs resulting from unscheduled shutdowns.<\/p>\n\n
Unlike traditional approaches, the ORNL’s digital twin<\/a><\/strong> integrates real-time operational data and risk analysis methodologies to optimize operational decisions. This tool acts as a virtual replica that simulates reactor behavior under different scenarios, assessing the probability of failure and proposing corrective actions in advance. <\/p>\n\n Small modular reactors already offer benefits such as simpler construction and reduced costs compared to conventional reactors. With this new digital tool, they gain an additional advantage: predictive monitoring that reduces operational uncertainty and extends component life. <\/p>\n\n This development is also applicable to other existing nuclear designs and reactors, consolidating its usefulness in an energy landscape that seeks clean and reliable technologies.<\/p>\n\n ORNL researcher Michael Muhlheim noted that this technology represents a key tool for rapid and informed decision making. The integration of digital simulation into nuclear management marks an important step towards the consolidation of the SMR<\/a><\/strong> as a competitive and safe energy solution. <\/p>\n\nDigital twin for SMR as a competitive advantage<\/h2>\n\n
A push for SMR adoption<\/h2>\n\n