The NEA organised the third International School on Simulation of Nuclear Reactor Systems (SINUS) on the topic of Reactor single- and multi-physics simulations based on Light Water Reactor (LWR) Uncertainty Analysis in Modeling (UAM) benchmark with a focus on light-water small modular reactors (LW-SMRs). Targeting students and young professionals in the nuclear sector, the course brought together the next generation of experts with the expert community from the NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues and Uncertainty Analysis of Reactor Systems (WPRS).
The event was jointly developed by the North Carolina State University (NCSU), the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the NEA WPRS with support of the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA). The in-person part was co-located with the WPRS Benchmarks Workshops 2025 hosted by the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The technical content of the training sessions was based on the LWR UAM benchmark. It followed the specifications of the benchmark for selected benchmark exercises from the three phases of the benchmark and includes additional exercises based on an LWR-SMR academic concept (PRATIC core). The scope included quantifying and propagating relevant significant uncertainties through different single physics and multi-physics modeling and simulation of nuclear reactor cores using the Pressurised Water Reactor test cases.
The trainings included practical exercises with state-of-the-art reactor simulation packages, which are provided by the NEA Data Bank and RSICC.
The course featured lectures by NCSU faculty members with support of CEA, as well as internationally renowned experts from the WPRS and its expert groups. The SINUS training sessions took place in a hybrid format.
SINUS provided an opportunity to develop a multinational network with fellow participants and international experts, and to learn more about this challenging and innovative subject.
The SINUS consisted of remote and in-person trainings.
The remote training included approximately 40 hours of remote lectures and exercise sessions. The practical exercises were based on examples taken from the Benchmark for LWR-UAM of WPRS and on the PRATIC SMR academic concept, and focus on quantifying and propagating relevant significant uncertainties through different single physics and multi-physics modelling and simulation of nuclear reactor cores using the PWR test cases. The course featured homework assignments and computer projects for participant teams completed and presented during the in-person sessions.
Five virtual training sessions:
Participants received project assigments in which they practiced the application of reactor simulation packages. Results of the project work are presented during the in-person meeting in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The NEA organised the in-person training of the International School on Simulation of Nuclear Reactor Systems (SINUS) on 30 June - 2 July 2025. The in-person part was co-located with the WPRS Benchmarks Workshops 2025 hosted by the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The course was free of charge and open to advanced Master’s and PhD students, or young professionals with a Master’s or PhD degrees in nuclear engineering, reactor physics, nuclear physics, and related disciplines. Requirements:
Participants were selected based on eligibility and excellence, considering geographical and gender balance aspects. The selection process was based on an applicant's motivation letter and their educational track records.
The proposed committee for selecting the students included high-level experts in the field of reactor physics: the Chair of WPRS, the Chairs of the NEA Expert Group on Reactor Multiphysics (EGMUP), and the Head of the NEA Division for Nuclear Science and Education. The selection process was supported by the NEA Secretariat.
Training material development was co-ordinated by the NCSU with support from the CEA. The RSICC and the NEA Data Bank support the distribution of the required software. The University of Cambridge hosted the in-person event in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Training material is distributed on a MyNEA SharePoint Page (access only for lecturers and participants).
The application period closed on 9 March 2025, with nearly 200 applications received from 51 countries.
WPRS Secretariat: Oliver BUSS
wprs@oecd-nea.org
