Virtual reality for UK nuclear reactor group
20 Jan 2012
Sheffield, UK – Virtalis has designed and installed two virtual reality (VR) systems for the new Nuclear AMRC, which was set up in Sheffield to support the nuclear supply chain for the new generation of nuclear reactors.
The visualisation capability will make the technology of manufacturing nuclear components and machining tools more accessible, according to Rab Scott, head of VR and simulation at the Nuclear AMRC.
“We’re talking about massive components weighing 40 or 50 tonnes,” said Scott. “Any small alterations that need to be made to components that size should be made where they are manufactured, rather than at the assembly stage.
“Our VR systems will give us an accurate, virtual prove-out, with all alterations made prior to shipping. We’ll achieve this by scanning the components and dropping them into their virtual environment to check they fit with the other components in the assembly.”
One of the systems at the Nuclear AMRC is a Virtalis ActiveCube – multi-sided VR systems that deliver an intuitive, human-scale immersive virtual experience for two to four people.
Nuclear AMRC’s ActiveCube has the appearance of a floating 3.2m. glass box. It is the four-sided variant with 3D virtual environments rear-projected by Christie Mirage S+3Ks, with a Mirage S+6K covering the larger floor area. Movements within the ActiveCube are tracked using an InterSense IS900 tracking system.
A hand-held controller allows the immersive experience to be enhanced further. The user can navigate through the virtual world, pick and manipulate component parts in real-time and make decisions on the fly.
The second VR system at the Nuclear AMRC is a Virtalis ActiveWall, an immersive, interactive 3D visualisation system designed for up to 25 people to experience. It can be linked to the ActiveCube for collaborative working.
The ActiveWall features InterSense IS900 tracking, a 2.8 x 4.5m Da-Lite Screen and deploys Christie Mirage WU12K-M rear projection. Both the ActiveWall and the ActiveCube come with a full suite of Virtalis immersive drivers.
“We envisage three to four people interacting in our ActiveCube with their movements within the virtual environment being watched by up to 25 more observers via the ActiveWall”, said Scott.”We also see them being linked with other VR centres worldwide to allow us to carry out international design, manufacturing and assembly reviews, as well as complex training exercises.”
The key to high end visualisation such as this making a real impact, is for it to be sharable with partners and stakeholders”, according to Scott.
“Virtual assembly is just the beginning,” he concluded. “The ActiveCube and the ActiveWall will also be put to use in design validation, virtual training and design for maintenance. Although the systems are still awaiting final commissioning, over 25 groups of visitors have already been wowed by their power, even some who were previously sceptical.”
Nuclear AMRC is a collaboration of academic and industrial partners from across the nuclear manufacturing supply chain. It brings together the manufacturing and engineering expertise of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the nuclear and materials technology capacity of The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute and the experience and resources of industry leaders.
It is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (formerly the Technology & Innovation Centre for High Value Manufacturing). Key industrial members of the Nuclear AMRC include Rolls-Royce, Westinghouse, Areva, Sheffield Forgemasters and Tata Steel.
