Framatome's ''SAF'' Engineering Simulator: A First Step Toward Defining the Engineer's Simulation Tool of the Year 2000

摘要

Among the techniques available to engineers today, computerized simulation is taking on an ever-growing importance. The ''SAF'' simulator, designed by Framatome for the use of its own engineers, has been in service since 1985. The SAF simulator provides continuous assistance to the engineer, from the preliminary design stage to the precise definition of operating procedures, including safety analysis and sizing computations. For the engineer of the year 2000, who will be used to dialoguing with the computer from a very young age, the SAF represents a first step toward a comprehensive simulation tool. Interactive and thus ''alive'', the SAF combines both extensive programming and data processing capabilities. Its simulation domain can still be considerably extended. Highly modular and equipped with easy-to-use compilers, the SAF can be readily modified and reconfigured by the user, to enable testing new models or new systems, in the complex and detailed environment of the nuclear unit being analysed. Employing the advanced computer programs used in project design, the SAF simulator is a particularly high-performance tool for simulating and analysing complex accident scenarios, including multiple equipment failures and possible operator errors, which may extend to complete draining of the reactor vessel and the release of radioactive fission products within the containment structure. (ERA citation 13:039667)