Designing a Game-Based Simulation of a Pressurized Water Reactor for Education and Nuclear Energy Awareness
Disciplines
Game Design | Nuclear
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Nuclear engineering is one of the most misunderstood fields of study in the US general population. Despite the public perception that nuclear reactors are harmful to the environment, in fact, they are far more renewable and cleaner than fossil fuels. Nuclear power provides approximately 20% of the electricity generated by 94 reactor units of the nation's electricity. This research aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of nuclear power by developing a simulation game that simplifies the complexities of nuclear reactor operations for a general audience.
A simulation game was created as part of this study to demonstrate the functionality of a nuclear reactor, modeled after a Pressurized Water Reactor. The game models the general operations of a plant by allowing the player to control a few selected parameters of the reactor, including the insertion depth of control rods, the functionality of reactor pumps, and the rate of steam output. This level of interaction allows the users to understand more in-depth the mechanics of the reactor. To keep players engaged, three mini-games were implemented based on possible reactor failure scenarios. If the player fails these mini-games, there will be a dramatized “Meltdown” of the reactor accompanied by a disclaimer explaining the real-world safety measures that prevent such incidents in actual reactors.
The game will be play-tested by high school and college freshmen to assess its effectiveness in improving comprehension and sparking interest in nuclear energy. Beyond educating players on PWR operations, this project aims to inspire curiosity about nuclear power production and introduce emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CCSE - Software Engineering and Game Development
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Yi (Joy) Li
Designing a Game-Based Simulation of a Pressurized Water Reactor for Education and Nuclear Energy Awareness
Nuclear engineering is one of the most misunderstood fields of study in the US general population. Despite the public perception that nuclear reactors are harmful to the environment, in fact, they are far more renewable and cleaner than fossil fuels. Nuclear power provides approximately 20% of the electricity generated by 94 reactor units of the nation's electricity. This research aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of nuclear power by developing a simulation game that simplifies the complexities of nuclear reactor operations for a general audience.
A simulation game was created as part of this study to demonstrate the functionality of a nuclear reactor, modeled after a Pressurized Water Reactor. The game models the general operations of a plant by allowing the player to control a few selected parameters of the reactor, including the insertion depth of control rods, the functionality of reactor pumps, and the rate of steam output. This level of interaction allows the users to understand more in-depth the mechanics of the reactor. To keep players engaged, three mini-games were implemented based on possible reactor failure scenarios. If the player fails these mini-games, there will be a dramatized “Meltdown” of the reactor accompanied by a disclaimer explaining the real-world safety measures that prevent such incidents in actual reactors.
The game will be play-tested by high school and college freshmen to assess its effectiveness in improving comprehension and sparking interest in nuclear energy. Beyond educating players on PWR operations, this project aims to inspire curiosity about nuclear power production and introduce emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors.