The present paper describes a first step taken at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the development of a new multi-physics platform for reactor analysis. Such platform is based on the finite-volume software OpenFOAM and aims at a tightly coupled description of neutron transport, thermal mechanics and fluid dynamics. For this purpose, a steady-state 3-D discrete ordinates/thermal-mechanics solver was first developed in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano. The present work briefly discusses such solver and its preliminary validation, which will be described in detail in parallel publications. It then focuses on its extension to time-dependent simulations. The solver is first tested by simulating different step-wise reactivity insertions in a critical configuration constituted by an infinite slab of highly enriched uranium. Subsequently, a super-prompt-critical power burst in the Godiva reactor has been simulated. Godiva was a spherical assembly of highly enriched uranium built and operated at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (US) during the Fifties. A prompt-critical transient in such system configures as a quick power excursion (up to ∼10 GW), which causes a temperature rise, and a subsequent reactivity reduction via expansion of the sphere. The overall transient lasts for few fractions of a millisecond. Results obtained with the newly developed model have been compared to experimental results, showing a relatively good agreement.
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2014 22nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
July 7–11, 2014
Prague, Czech Republic
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4594-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
A Time-Dependent Solver for Coupled Neutron-Transport Thermal-Mechanics Calculations and Simulation of a Godiva Prompt-Critical Burst
Carlo Fiorina,
Carlo Fiorina
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
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Manuele Aufiero,
Manuele Aufiero
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Sandro Pelloni,
Sandro Pelloni
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
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Konstantin Mikityuk
Konstantin Mikityuk
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
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Carlo Fiorina
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
Manuele Aufiero
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Sandro Pelloni
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
Konstantin Mikityuk
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
Paper No:
ICONE22-30395, V004T11A008; 9 pages
Published Online:
November 17, 2014
Citation
Fiorina, C, Aufiero, M, Pelloni, S, & Mikityuk, K. "A Time-Dependent Solver for Coupled Neutron-Transport Thermal-Mechanics Calculations and Simulation of a Godiva Prompt-Critical Burst." Proceedings of the 2014 22nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering. Volume 4: Radiation Protection and Nuclear Technology Applications; Fuel Cycle, Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Coupled Codes; Reactor Physics and Transport Theory. Prague, Czech Republic. July 7–11, 2014. V004T11A008. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE22-30395
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