Steady-state, whole-core VHTR simulation with consistent coupling of neutronics and thermo-fluid analysis

J. W. Thomas, C. H. Lee, W. D. Pointer, W. S. Yang

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

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The neutron transport code DeCART and the commercial CFD code STAR-CD are being integrated into the SHARP reactor analysis toolkit to extend its applicability to high-fidelity analysis of prismatic VHTR cores. The CFD analysis provides detailed intra-compact temperature feedback to DeCART based on the intra-compact power distribution predicted by DeCART. A demonstration calculation of the coupled DeCART/STAR-CD capability was performed for a 1/6 VHTR core model. The coupled calculation exhibited good convergence characteristics, and performed five iterations between DeCART and STAR-CD in 18 hours on twelve 8-core nodes of a high-performance Linux cluster. While the results of the analysis are preliminary and model improvements and validation exercises are ongoing, this calculation demonstrates that performing such analyses on current-generation computing platforms are now feasible. Ongoing work in this effort includes the implementation of the geometry and mesh database tools CGM and MOAB for efficient, inter-operable coupling as well as the inclusion of new meshing tools to facilitate the model development process.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2010, ICAPP 2010
Pages327-336
Number of pages10
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2010, ICAPP 2010 - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Jun 13 2010Jun 17 2010

Publication series

NameInternational Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2010, ICAPP 2010
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceInternational Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2010, ICAPP 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period06/13/1006/17/10

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