PANTHERE: simulation software for 3D dose rate calculation in complex nuclear facilities

Abstract

PANTHERE is an industrial simulation tool developed by EDF to calculate γ dose rates in 3D geometry with numerous observation points and radioactive sources. It is composed of three main components: a kernel, a GUI and a database. PANTHERE takes a key role in EDF's ALARA process, enabling to predict dose rates and then organize and optimize operations in high radiation environments. It is used in most EDF engineering units at every stage of a nuclear facility lifecycle: design (EPR TM , for example), operation (maintenance) and dismantling. PANTHERE is verified and validated by comparison with reference Monte-Carlo code TRIPOLI-4® and gamma dose rates experimental measurements. EDF is currently replacing PANTHEREV1 (operational version) by PANTHEREV2. The major improvements are the enhanced computation speed, the unification of the GUI and the shared database for all radiation protection simulation codes used by EDF engineering units (gamma, and in the future beta and neutron radiation). PANTHEREV2's kernel uses the NARMER solver of the CEA, which performs dose rate calculations based on the point-kernel integration method with build-up factors. The GUI is based on the software platform SALOME® of CEA and EDF, and provides improved ergonomy and contains all necessary features as required by radiation protection simulation practices.

A new hybrid next-event estimator for photon-based Monte Carlo dose rate calculations

“…This allows the PKI method to be used in real-time dose computation tools like Visiplan [6] and Mercurad [7], and opens the door to virtual reality implementation [8]. However, the speed of the PKI method comes at the cost of accuracy; the analytical dose calculations are based on several assumptions and simplications which may break down in specic situations, such as scattering-dominated problems, or in the case of very short distance between radiation source and detector [9].…”

Investigation of the Reactor Decommissioning Dose Field Calculation and Virtual Simulation Techniques: Preliminary Design for the Decommissioning of the First Heavy Water Research Reactor (HWRR) Reactor in China

“…The optimization process is shown in Figure 2.13 [10]. SCK•CEN in Belgium has developed a VISIPLAN 3D-ALARA software [11,12] that can be used to simulate dose distribution in decommissioning scenarios based on geometry, material, and source term information. This software adopts the point kernel calculation model, which can achieve dynamic calculation of the dose field in three-dimensional scenes.…”