Maintain a stable reactor at optimal performance by meeting the power generation targets while preventing the reactor temperature from exceeding safe limits and eventually a meltdown. You will need to balance multiple variables including radioactivity, reactor temperature, steam volume, uranium fuel temperature, and xenon levels.
15 Minute Shift
Standard 15-minute countdown shift with predictable grid target requests, standard random events, and baseline performance monitoring. Perfect for learning core reactor mechanics.
30 Minute Shift
Demanding 30-minute shift with aggressive grid target swings, frequent power cuts, and stuck control rod events. Requires expert reactor management.
Unlimited Practice
Unlimited sandbox practice with a count-up clock, no power grid targets, and no random disruptions. Full reactor core physics (heat, steam, xenon, and meltdowns) remain active.
Select the control rods button on the control panel to adjust insertion percentage (0-100%). Boron rods decrease radioactivity, acting as a critical brake to increasing radioactivity. The emergency AZ-5 button can be used to fully insert all rods at once when radioactivity levels need to be immediately reduced. Be careful about fully removing the control rods when you need to increase radioactivity. Once they are removed and reinserted, they can cause a spike in radioactivity and steam due to their graphite tips. We are hoping to fix this design flaw with the RBMK reactor control rods very soon. The control panel shows insertion rates on the display screen.
Select the water pumps button on the control panel to toggle water pumps on and off. Pumps reduce reactor temperature by ensuring a steady flow of cooling water through the core, but they need to be in the ON position and powered. In recent days we have seen incoming power cuts that have resulted in the pumps being without power and turning off. If all pumps are turned off or are without power, the remaining water in the pipes will quickly result in a build up of steam and risk a spike in radioactivity. The control panel lights indicate on/off and powered/unpowered state.
Our power station delivers electricity to the people of our district as a result of the steam our reactor generates turning the plant's electricity turbine. Select the turbine button on the control panel to toggle connection. If our power generation is too high, we may be asked to disconnect our turbine to avoid damage to the power grid. A light on the control panel indicate when the turbine is connected, and a warning light with flash when power is too high for the power grid transmission.
Uranium-235 fuel is naturally unstable and radioactive. Radioactivity must be stopped from increasing by insertion of boron control rods. High amounts of steam and a low uranium fuel temperature will increase radioactivity, and the presence of xenon will reduce it. Balance these forces carefully.
Our reactor temperature increases with higher radioactivity. This is needed in order to generate the steam that turns our turbine. Water pumps take cold water from the sea and removes excess heat. Our reactor core will meltdown at very high temperatures. This must be avoided at all costs.
A reactor temperature of ~90 degrees will generate steam. The hotter our reactor gets the more steam is created, and thus the more electricity we can generate. Steam increases radioactivity over time as our RBMK reactors have a positive void coefficient - monitor carefully.
Uranium fuel temperature increases and decreases as our reactor temperatures changes. It takes longer to change, and there is a negative temperature coefficient. This means cool uranium fuel is more radioactive, and hot uranium fuel is less radioactive. If you find your reactor is in a xenon pit, reduce the fuel temperature and remove control rods carefully to raise radioactivity levels back up to stable levels
Our district's power grid requires us to be within 500 MWs of the power targets they set. If our power plant is consistently unable to get close to these targets, you will be removed from your post as Chief Reactor Controller.