A new facility installed at the Culham Campus of the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) provides a platform for training, research and development of the tritium fuel cycle technologies required to advance delivery of sustainable fusion energy.

The virtual simulator, developed in conjunction with Bilfinger U.K., represents the world’s first tritium fuel cycle virtual control room. Operators of the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility, designed to support the study of tritium processing, storage and recycling, with the opportunity to undergo simulated training exercises in a safe and controlled environment. It will also enable the agency to simulate potential changes to H3AT’s operating parameters in order to increase optimization and efficiencies.

Operators using the virtual control room. Source: UKAEA

According to Stephen Wheeler, executive director for fusion technology and tritium fuel cycle at UKAEA, “The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility will be the largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle in the world. It also represents a significant advance in the enhancement of industry capability within the fusion sector. By creating this digital control room with the support of Bilfinger, we’re increasing technical capability and supporting industry to deliver the mechanisms that will serve fusion in the future. The development will provide an unprecedented opportunity to train the next generation of fusion engineers through cutting-edge virtual simulation technology.

“Using digital technology to train operators is business-as-usual across several divisions at UKAEA, so it is really pleasing that we are able to employ the same principles within the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility.”

Future plans envision providing third parties access to the facility to test their own fuel cycle management systems.