A Full-Height Axial P₃ Solver for the 2D/1D Method in MPACT

Technical Report · Fri Sep 29 04:00:00 EDT 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/3002101· OSTI ID:3002101

Stimpson, Shane G. ^[1]; Collins, Benjamin ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

This report encompasses the efforts to complete L3:RTM.PRT.P15.04, which relates to improvements to the axial solvers in MPACT. Over the past few years, a number of convergence issues have been encountered throughout the 2D/1D calculation. While many of these were related to transport-corrected stability, which has been much improved through the development of multigroup MOC kernels, there are still some instabilities that are more directly related to the 1D axial nodal solvers. The primary focus of this milestone is on the development of a full-height P₃ solver, which solves for a single linear system for the entire rod, compared to the one- and two-node solvers previously available in MPACT. To provide an efficient full-height solver, the SuperLU direct linear solver was leveraged and an alternative rod decomposition scheme is used in favor over the typically employed axial decomposition. In addition to the full-height solver, a number of stability observations are discussed pertaining to (1) cases with thin planes in the axial reflectors, (2) quadratic radial leakage interpolation, (3) the reset sol capability, which reinitializes the solution before continuing the calculation, and (4) the flux threshold used in the radial transverse leakage splitting logic. The last of these was improved by identifying an acceptable threshold, which greatly help provide stability to the default one-node P₃ solver approach. Results demonstrating the full-height solver are presented for (1) a single assembly case from the AP1000 reactor design, (2) VERA Progression Problem 5a, and (3) a Watts Bar Unit 1, Cycle 1 case that demonstrated convergence issues due to thin planes in the axial reflector. In total, the full-height solver appears to be 3–5× slower for the nodal solve time, yield a roughly 10–20% increase in total problem run time, and requires ~5% more memory. However, these increases may be justifiable if the solver is proven to be more stable than the current default. Additionally, the VERA Progression Problem 4a case with the 252-group library is shown for the one-node P₃ solver with the updated threshold for radial transverse leakage splitting. This case also previous failed very early in the calculation, but is now able to run to completion. Brief details are also included related to the refactoring the nodal sweeper design. Previously, all nodal sweeper options were available in one large module, which was cumbersome and difficult to extend. Before the work here began, the design was refactored to include a number of abstract and extended types, which will help make future extensions easier. All-in-all, this milestone successfully implemented a new axial solver and improved the stability of the current default axial solver. However, additional testing will be necessary on new cases that demonstrate convergence issues before a decision can be made to change the current default in MPACT.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 3002101
• Report Number(s): CASL-U--2017-1434-000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING