Discrete element simulation of Pebble Bed Reactors on graphics processing units

Reger, David; Merzari, Elia; Balestra, Paolo; Stewart, Ryan Hunter; Strydom, Gerhard

doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2023.109896

Discrete element simulation of Pebble Bed Reactors on graphics processing units

Journal Article · Wed May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Annals of Nuclear Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2023.109896· OSTI ID:1984448

^[1]; Merzari, Elia ^[1]; Balestra, Paolo ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[2]

Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Prediction of pebble positions in a Pebble Bed Reactor (PBR) is necessary for both reactor physics and thermal hydraulics simulations as the arrangement of pebbles has a significant impact on the resulting core power, coolant flow, and fuel temperature. Knowledge of pebble movement as the fuel is cycled through the core is also critical for predicting the fuel residence time and subsequently, the fuel burnup. Simulation with the Discrete Element Method (DEM) can provide knowledge of both the fuel packing and the fuel movement during cycling. Previous works that have performed 3D full-core DEM simulation of PBRs have used simplified models that neglect reflector wall features. This work employs a graphics processing unit (GPU)-enabled DEM code, Project Chrono, to analyze the differences in pebble packing and pebble velocities between a simplified smooth PBR reflector and a more realistic reflector that includes circular wall features. Additionally, a sensitivity study is performed on the depth of the wall features to ensure that crystallization is prevented. Project Chrono is also validated for PBR cycling applications using experimental data. It is found that wall features with a depth of at least 0.5 pebble diameters significantly reduce crystallization in the near-wall region, leading to discrepancies in both packing fraction and pebble velocity in this region compared to the simplified reflector models. These discrepancies are found to lead to roughly a 5–10% difference in the prediction of the near-wall porosity and a 10% difference in the prediction of the velocity of pebbles near the wall. As a result of these discrepancies, it is suggested that future DEM simulations of PBRs include wall features to reduce modeling errors.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1984448

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU-22-70550-Rev000

Journal Information:: Annals of Nuclear Energy, Journal Name: Annals of Nuclear Energy Vol. 190; ISSN 0306-4549

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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