Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance

This study proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) driven approach to nuclear reactor operation, focusing on a novel large language model (LLM) agent system designed to assist operators with various tasks within a nuclear reactor simulator. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of deep l...

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Main Authors: Yoon Pyo Lee, Joowon Cha, Yonggyun Yu, Seung Geun Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325004103
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author Yoon Pyo Lee
Joowon Cha
Yonggyun Yu
Seung Geun Kim
author_facet Yoon Pyo Lee
Joowon Cha
Yonggyun Yu
Seung Geun Kim
author_sort Yoon Pyo Lee
collection DOAJ
description This study proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) driven approach to nuclear reactor operation, focusing on a novel large language model (LLM) agent system designed to assist operators with various tasks within a nuclear reactor simulator. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of deep learning for tasks such as anomaly detection and heat-up mode automation. Building on these efforts, studies have been conducted to employ LLMs for nuclear reactor diagnostics and the automation of system engineering tasks. The emergence of AI agents that utilize external tools, capable of natural language reasoning and retrieval-augmented generation, offers broader opportunities for decision-making and operation. We developed an AI agent architecture that integrated documentation, functions, and other modules. Two experiments were conducted to demonstrate the usefulness and potential of the proposed system. The first experiment evaluated whether the AI agent could address a boron concentration anomaly using a predictive module and relevant documentation. The second experiment evaluated whether the AI agent could generate a new procedure that parallels the provided manual without additional model training. The results indicate that the AI agent can execute commands and adapt the operational parameters, thereby demonstrating a comprehensive approach to automated reactor operations for safer, cost-effective performance.
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spelling doaj-art-e7efc8e3eb264ddfaa6cd1338a2f0e812025-08-20T03:41:43ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332025-12-01571210384210.1016/j.net.2025.103842Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistanceYoon Pyo Lee0Joowon Cha1Yonggyun Yu2Seung Geun Kim3Applied Artificial Intelligence Section, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of KoreaApplied Artificial Intelligence Section, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of KoreaApplied Artificial Intelligence Section, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of KoreaApplied Artificial Intelligence Section, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author.This study proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) driven approach to nuclear reactor operation, focusing on a novel large language model (LLM) agent system designed to assist operators with various tasks within a nuclear reactor simulator. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of deep learning for tasks such as anomaly detection and heat-up mode automation. Building on these efforts, studies have been conducted to employ LLMs for nuclear reactor diagnostics and the automation of system engineering tasks. The emergence of AI agents that utilize external tools, capable of natural language reasoning and retrieval-augmented generation, offers broader opportunities for decision-making and operation. We developed an AI agent architecture that integrated documentation, functions, and other modules. Two experiments were conducted to demonstrate the usefulness and potential of the proposed system. The first experiment evaluated whether the AI agent could address a boron concentration anomaly using a predictive module and relevant documentation. The second experiment evaluated whether the AI agent could generate a new procedure that parallels the provided manual without additional model training. The results indicate that the AI agent can execute commands and adapt the operational parameters, thereby demonstrating a comprehensive approach to automated reactor operations for safer, cost-effective performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325004103Nuclear reactorOperation systemArtificial intelligence (AI)AutomationLarge language models (LLMs)Agents
spellingShingle Yoon Pyo Lee
Joowon Cha
Yonggyun Yu
Seung Geun Kim
Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Nuclear reactor
Operation system
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Automation
Large language models (LLMs)
Agents
title Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
title_full Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
title_fullStr Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
title_full_unstemmed Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
title_short Large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
title_sort large language model agent for nuclear reactor operation assistance
topic Nuclear reactor
Operation system
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Automation
Large language models (LLMs)
Agents
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325004103
work_keys_str_mv AT yoonpyolee largelanguagemodelagentfornuclearreactoroperationassistance
AT joowoncha largelanguagemodelagentfornuclearreactoroperationassistance
AT yonggyunyu largelanguagemodelagentfornuclearreactoroperationassistance
AT seunggeunkim largelanguagemodelagentfornuclearreactoroperationassistance