Patent ID: 6404437
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G21C,G21D,Y02E

Abstract:
A method for visually presenting nuclear reactor core performance data as animated two-dimensional graphics and/or three-dimensional images on a video display monitor coupled to a computer system, comprising the steps, executed by the computer system, of:a) acquiring nuclear reactor core performance data from an operational nuclear reactor and/or from a nuclear reactor computer simulation/optimization system; b) creating in computer memory a first data array comprising time-varying reactor core performance parameter data acquired in step (a); c) creating in computer memory a second data array comprising spatially-related core performance parameter data acquired in step (a), said core performance parameter data corresponding to one or more selected points in time; d) formatting time-varying reactor core performance parameter data acquired over a predetermined period of time into one or more image animation files, information in said image animation files being displayable on a video monitor as one or more video image frames either singly or sequentially to form an animated image; e) formatting spatially-related core performance parameter data corresponding to one or more selected points in time into one or more virtual reality model image files, information in said virtual reality model image files being displayable on a video monitor as a 3-D image; and f) displaying on said video monitor one or more animated graphics and/or a three-dimensional model virtual image representation of a reactor core from information stored in said image animation files and said virtual reality model image files.