Multiphysics for nuclear energy applications using a cohesive computational framework

Journal Article · Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110751· OSTI ID:1766199

Martineau, R. ^[1]; Andrs, D. ^[1]; Carlsen, R. ^[1]; Gaston, D. ^[1]; Hansel, J. ^[1]; Kong, F. ^[1]; Lindsay, A. ^[1]; Permann, C. ^[1]; Slaughter, A. ^[1]; Merzari, E. ^[2]; Hu, Rui ^[2]; Novak, A. ^[3]; Slaybaugh, R. ^[3]

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1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
3. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

With the recent development of advanced numerical algorithms, software design, and low-cost high-performance computer hardware, reliance on coupled multiphysics to predict the behavior of complex physical systems is beginning to become standard practice. This is especially true in nuclear energy applications where strong nonlinear interdependencies exist between reactor physics, radiation transport, multi-scale nuclear fuels performance, thermal fluids, etc. Resolving these nonlinear dependencies requires choices in multiphysics software approaches. Two main multiphysics modeling and simulation approaches have emerged. The first is based upon "code coupling" where disparate physics codes of different software design, code languages, and spatial and temporal integration schemes are coupled together with relatively complex data passing interfaces. The second multiphysics software approach is to employ a "cohesive" framework where all physics applications are developed with a common software design, i.e., data structures, syntax, input format, integrated spatial and temporal discretization schemes, etc. In this paper we present the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) development and runtime framework and describe the framework's cohesive modeling and simulation multiphysics approach. Then, a "cohesive-like" extension of the MOOSE framework is presented where MOOSE-based physics software applications are efficiently coupled to non-MOOSE (external) physics codes to form multiphysics applications using MOOSE's unique interface capabilities. Finally, several examples of MOOSE's cohesive and cohesive-like multiphysics applications will be demonstrated. These multiphysics demonstrations will incorporate both MOOSE-based applications and external codes, including Nek5000, RELAP-7, TRACE, BISON, and Pronghorn.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357; AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1766199
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1646699
• Journal Information: Nuclear Engineering and Design, Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Design Vol. 367; ISSN 0029-5493
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
Cohesive coupling
Conjugate heat transfer
MOOSE
Multiphysics