Design of a code-agnostic driver application for high-fidelity coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulic simulations

Paul K. Romano, Steven P. Hamilton, Ronald O. Rahaman, April Novak, Elia Merzari, Sterling M. Harper, Patrick C. Shriwise

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

While the literature has numerous examples of Monte Carlo and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupling, most are hard-wired codes intended primarily for research rather than as standalone, general-purpose codes. In this work, we describe an open source application, ENRICO, that allows coupled neutronic and thermal-hydraulic simulations between multiple codes that can be chosen at runtime (as opposed to a coupling between two specific codes). In particular, we outline the class hierarchy in ENRICO and show how it enables a clean separation between the logic and data required for a coupled simulation (which is agnostic to the individual solvers used) from the logic/data required for individual physics solvers. ENRICO also allows coupling between high-order (and generally computationally expensive) solvers to low-order “surrogate” solvers; for example, Nek5000 can be swapped out with a subchannel solver. ENRICO has been designed for use on distributed-memory computing environments. The transfer of solution fields between solvers is performed in memory rather than through file I/O. We describe the process topology among the different solvers and how it is leveraged to carry out solution transfers. We present results for a coupled simulation of a single light-water reactor fuel assembly using Monte Carlo neutron transport and CFD.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Physics of Reactors
Subtitle of host publicationTransition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
EditorsMarat Margulis, Partrick Blaise
PublisherEDP Sciences - Web of Conferences
Pages1382-1394
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9781713827245
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: Mar 28 2020Apr 2 2020

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
Volume2020-March

Conference

Conference2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityCambridge
Period03/28/2004/2/20

Funding

This research was supported by the Exascale Computing Project (ECP), Project Number: 17-SC-20-SC, a collaborative effort of two DOE organizations-the Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration-responsible for the planning and preparation of a capable exascale ecosystem-including software, applications, hardware, advanced system engineering, and early testbed platforms-to support the nation's exascale computing imperative. This research used resources of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357. This research also used resources of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported under Contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. This research was supported by the Exascale Computing Project (ECP), Project Number: 17-SC-20-SC, a collaborative effort of two DOE organizations—the Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration—responsible for the planning and preparation of a capable ex-ascale ecosystem—including software, applications, hardware, advanced system engineering, and early testbed platforms—to support the nation’s exascale computing imperative. This research used resources of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357. This research also used resources of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported under Contract DE-AC05-00OR22725.

Keywords

  • CFD
  • Monte Carlo
  • Multiphysics
  • Nuclear reactor
  • Open source

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