After the Fukushima disaster, nuclear regulatory bodies worldwide, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and European Union regulators, strengthened their requirements for severe accident management. Power plants must now comply with stricter safety regulations, which often mandate the installation of SAM tools to manage hydrogen buildup, prevent core melt, and contain radioactive releases. The Fukushima accident underscored the need for improved accident response systems, particularly in cases of multi-unit failures, power loss, or natural disasters like tsunamis or earthquakes. Severe Accident Management systems can provide plants with alternative cooling options, backup power supplies, and containment protection, even when primary systems are compromised.

Slovakia's nuclear power plants, such as Bohunice and Mochovce, are required to meet strict EU and IAEA safety standards, which include having a robust Severe Accident Management Program (SAMP). Nuclear simulators are a key component of this compliance, as they ensure operators are well-trained in handling severe accidents using the latest tools and procedures. Regular simulator-based training is also an essential requirement for maintaining operator licensing.

In Slovakia, the implementation of Severe Accident Management (SAM) tools in nuclear simulators plays a critical role in training of operators to handle extreme accident scenarios. These simulators are highly sophisticated and designed to mimic the complex systems of nuclear reactors, allowing operators to practice responding to severe accidents in a controlled, risk-free environment. 

Project of SAM workplace delivery is divided in two phases. In the first phase, VUJE delivered the SAM workplace for the Mochovce 1,2 full scope simulator (FSS) during the annual simulator outage in summer 2024. The workplace integrates three stations including one post-accident monitoring system (PAMS) and two severe accident management operating stations. Within this phase, VUJE developed a new OPC UA server-client communication with the firewall to comply with the highest cyber security requirements. This communication runs on a simulator server and SAM client as resilience service.

Second phase is focused on software modeling and integrating the new thermohydraulic (Thor) and electric circuits (TElec) with the instrumentation and control model into the simulation server executive. This integration will be performed in the end of November 2024 and followed by massive functional tests until the end of 2024. There are several changes in the simulation model which will ensure the representativeness of the Mochovce 1,2 FSS comparing to the real unit. The model will include SAM systems as depressurization of primary circuit, emergency coolant source, SAM diesel generator, in-vessel retention, vacuum breakers and many more. Simulation model will also be prepared for the possible future extension for passive autocatalytic recombiners and core melting code (MELCOR) as it has been already done and validated on Bohunice FSS.

The integration of Severe Accident Management tools into nuclear simulators in Slovakia is a vital component of the country's nuclear safety strategy. These simulators ensure that operators are fully trained to manage extreme scenarios, from hydrogen explosions to multi-unit failures, enhancing the safety of nuclear facilities like Bohunice and Mochovce. Through realistic scenario-based training, continuous safety improvements, and compliance with international standards, Slovakia's use of SAM tools in training contributes significantly to both plant safety and operator readiness in the face of severe accidents.