The digital overhaul, completed in 2019 with Department of Energy support, has enhanced control accuracy and system responsiveness. Precision once limited to 5% estimates is now refined to near watt-level accuracy—enabling more detailed oversight and responsiveness than traditional analog systems could offer. For regulators and operators considering upgrades or new builds, the PUR-1 conversion provides a working example of digitization within U.S. compliance standards.
The shift is more than cosmetic. Operators can now monitor the system through software-based interfaces, streamlining training and improving safety checks through automation and real-time diagnostics. These capabilities are especially relevant for small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors, where digital control architectures are becoming essential for remote, distributed deployment.
With its new infrastructure, PUR-1 has become a national platform for advanced reactor R&D—supporting projects in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and virtual simulation.
In 2023, Purdue researchers, led by assistant professor Stylianos Chatzidakis, developed a high-fidelity digital twin of PUR-1. This real-time simulation replicates the physical behavior of the reactor using sensor input and machine learning models, enabling virtual testing without disrupting real-world operations. One recent study, published in Scientific Reports, demonstrated a predictive model that could anticipate power fluctuations in small reactors with 99% accuracy—offering significant implications for improving the stability and efficiency of future SMRs.
Security remains a key concern as nuclear systems become increasingly reliant on networked control. Chatzidakis’s team has tested AI algorithms designed to detect anomalies in system behavior that may signal a cyber threat. These tools aim to strengthen situational awareness in digital environments where standard safeguards may fall short.
Looking further ahead, the team is also exploring quantum encryption as a way to secure remote communications between control centers and reactors. While still in early stages, simulations based on PUR-1 data suggest that quantum-based cryptography could offer strong protections against even next-generation cyber threats.
Beyond research, PUR-1 continues to serve an educational mission. The facility hosts thousands of student visitors each year and participates in a DOE-sponsored reactor-sharing program, helping to train the next generation of nuclear engineers on digital technologies that will likely define the future commercial landscape.