Thermal Feedback Models for Microreactor Core Simulations

Thermal modeling is essential for the design, analysis, and optimization of microreactors, ensuring efficient heat removal and operational safety across diverse configurations. This work presents thermal models developed to couple with the Shift Monte Carlo code, enabling detailed multiphysics simulations for microreactor applications. The models support both heat pipe-cooled and direct cooling designs, offering flexibility to evaluate a wide range of microreactor concepts. The thermal models are presented which capture steady-state heat transfer, accommodating various design parameters such as geometries, coolant flow characteristics, and temperature-dependent material properties. When coupled with Shift, these models enable precise feedback between power distributions and thermal behavior, providing high-fidelity predictions of microreactor performance.