About This Project

A free educational simulator of the Chernobyl RBMK-1000 reactor.

Purpose

The RBMK-1000 Simulation is an interactive educational tool that reconstructs the April 26, 1986 Chernobyl Unit 4 reactor catastrophe. It aims to help students, engineers, and the curious public understand the physics, design decisions, and operator actions that led to the world's worst nuclear accident.

This is not a game. The events depicted resulted in real human suffering and loss of life. The simulation treats these events with the gravity and respect they deserve, while making the underlying physics accessible and understandable.

Technical Methodology

The physics engine implements industry-standard reactor kinetics models:

  • Point reactor kinetics with 6 delayed neutron precursor groups (Keepin, 1965)
  • Positive void coefficient feedback (RBMK-specific)
  • Xenon-135 / Iodine-135 coupled differential equations
  • Doppler broadening temperature feedback
  • Control rod dynamics with graphite displacer effect
  • Fourth-order Runge-Kutta solver with adaptive time-stepping

All physics computations run client-side in a Web Worker at 30-60 Hz, ensuring responsive interaction without server dependency. Constants and parameters are sourced from published nuclear engineering data and the official INSAG-7 accident report.

Data Sources

  • INSAG-7: "The Chernobyl Accident: Updating of INSAG-1", IAEA Safety Series No. 75-INSAG-7, 1992. The definitive technical analysis of the accident.
  • Keepin, 1965: "Physics of Nuclear Kinetics", Source for delayed neutron precursor group data.
  • Glasstone & Sesonske: "Nuclear Reactor Engineering", Standard reference for reactor physics and thermal hydraulics.
  • Mercier et al.: Analysis of the AZ-5 emergency shutdown effect and graphite displacer reactivity contribution.
  • RBMK-1000 Design Data: Published reactor specifications for the Chernobyl Unit 4 reactor.

Disclaimer

This is a simplified educational simulation, not an exact replica of the RBMK-1000 control system. The physics models are approximations designed to illustrate key concepts rather than provide precise numerical predictions. Specific simplifications include the use of point kinetics (versus full spatial neutronics), representative rod groups (versus individual rod tracking), and approximate thermal-hydraulic correlations.

The timeline and historical narrative are based on published accounts and may contain minor inaccuracies in exact timings or details. For authoritative information, consult the INSAG-7 report and peer-reviewed nuclear engineering literature.

Project Team

Arti Rozenberg, Project Manager and Creator

Questions, corrections, or collaboration inquiries are welcome via the contact form.

License

This project is released under the MIT License. The source code is freely available for educational use, modification, and redistribution.