The code user effect and the international training Seminar 3D SUNCOP

Thermal-hydraulic system computer codes are extensively used worldwide for analysis of nuclear facilities by utilities, regulatory bodies, nuclear power plant designers and vendors, nuclear fuel companies, research organizations, consulting companies, and technical support organizations. The computer code user represents a source of uncertainty that can influence the results of system code calculations. This influence is commonly known as the ‘user effect’ and stems from the limitations embedded in the codes as well as from the limited capability of the analysts to use the codes. Code user training and qualification is an effective means for reducing the variation of results caused by the application of the codes by different users. This paper describes a systematic approach to training code users who, upon completion of the training, should be able to perform calculations making the best possible use of the capabilities of best estimate codes. In other words, the program aims at contributing towards solving the problem of user effect. The 3D S.UN.COP (Scaling, Uncertainty and 3D COuPled code calculations) seminars have been organized as followup of the proposal to IAEA for the Permanent Training Course for System Code Users [1]. Eight seminars have been held at University of Pisa (two in 2004), at The Pennsylvania State University (2004), at the University of Zagreb (2005), at the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona (January-February 2006), in Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 2006), requested by Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear (ARN), Nucleoelectrica Argentina S.A (NA-SA) and Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), at the College Station, Texas A&M, (January-February 2007), in Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Ontario (October2007) requested by Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS) and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). It was recognized that such courses represented both a source of continuing education for current code users and a mean for current code users to enter the formal training structure of a proposed ‘permanent’ stepwise approach to user training. The 3D S.UN.COP - CANDU 2007 in Canada was successfully held with the attendance of 33 participants coming from 8 countries and 16 different institutions (universities, vendors and national laboratories). More than 30 scientists (coming from 13 countries and 23 different institutions) were involved in the organization of the seminar, presenting theoretical aspects of the proposed methodologies and holding the training and the final examination. A certificate (LA Code User grade) was released to participants that successfully solved the assigned problems. A ninth seminar is currently holding (October 2008) at the Institute for Energy, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Petten (The Netherlands), involving more than 30 scientists between lecturers and code developers(http://dimnp.ing.unipi.it/3dsuncop/2008/index.html