Advanced Control for Nuclear Energy Systems: Intelligent Control and Operation Strategies
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B4: Nuclear Energy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 59
Special Issue Editors
Interests: efficient multiscale/multiphysics modeling and simulation (M&S) and uncertainty quantification for reactor systems; analysis and learning of heterogeneous data from experimentation and simulation to support engineering decision-making; intelligent control and operation of advanced nuclear energy systems
Interests: computational thermal hydraulics; prognostics and health management; autonomous control; systems engineering; safety and reliability analysis; AI & ML for nuclear and thermal-fluid systems; digital twin; validation and verification; uncertainty quantification; optimization; high performance computing; techno-economic analysis; life cycle assessment; hybrid/integrated energy systems
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nuclear energy is a promising alternative for providing stable and clean energy for AI data centers, and it continues to play a crucial role in meeting global energy demands while mitigating carbon emissions. As new reactor designs and deployment strategies emerge, ensuring the safe, efficient, and flexible operation of nuclear power plants has become more critical than ever. Advanced control systems, leveraging cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, hold significant promise for enhancing reliability and optimizing performance in nuclear energy systems. From addressing the complexities of load-following capabilities to implementing predictive maintenance solutions, intelligent control approaches can significantly improve the operational margins and economic viability of both conventional and next-generation nuclear reactors.
This Special Issue, entitled “Advanced Control for Nuclear Energy Systems: Intelligent Control and Operation Strategies”, aims to bring together researchers and practitioners to share the latest developments and breakthroughs in this rapidly evolving field. Submissions encompassing theoretical frameworks, simulation studies, and real-world applications are all welcomed. By showcasing novel strategies for monitoring, control, and automation, this Special Issue sheds light on the integration of smart technologies into nuclear energy systems to achieve robust, reliable, and adaptable systems under diverse and dynamic operational conditions. Ultimately, this collection fosters a deeper understanding of advanced control strategies and promotes innovative collaborations that will pave the way for safer, more flexible, and economically viable nuclear energy infrastructures.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Intelligent control algorithms and architectures for nuclear reactors;
- Digital twins, simulation, and modeling for nuclear plant optimization;
- Machine learning and data-driven approaches for fault detection and diagnosis;
- Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring in nuclear power plants;
- Robust and adaptive control strategies for load-following reactors;
- Advanced sensing and instrumentation for enhanced plant monitoring;
- Cyber–physical security and secure control strategies;
- Control system design and verification for small modular reactors and microreactors;
- Human–machine interfaces and supervisory control systems;
- Real-time optimization of nuclear processes and operations.
Dr. Yang Liu
Dr. Xingang Zhao
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- advanced nuclear reactors
- autonomous control
- operation and maintenance
- AI-enhanced control
- strategies cyber–physical system
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