Coupling the core analysis program decart to the fuel performance application bison

Frederick N. Gleicher, Benjamin Spencer, Stephen Novascone, Richard Williamson, Richard C. Martineau, Michael Rose, Thomas J. Downar, Benjamin Collins

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The 3D neutron transport and core analysis program DeCART was coupled to the fuels performance application BISON to provide a higher fidelity tool for fuel performance simulation. This project is motivated by the desire to couple a high fidelity core analysis program (based on the method of characteristics) to a high fidelity fuel performance program, both of which can simulate 3D problems. DeCART provides sub-pin level resolution of the multigroup neutron flux, with resonance treatment, during burnup or a fast transient. BISON implicitly solves coupled thermomechanical equations for the fuel on a sub-milimeter level finite element mesh. A method was developed for mapping the fission rate density and fast neutron flux from DeCART to BISON. Multiple depletion cases were run with one-way data transfer from DeCART to BISON. The one-way data transfer of fission rate density is shown to agree with the fission rate density obtained from an internal Lassman-style model in BISON. One-way data transfer was also demonstrated in a 3D case in which azimuthal asymmetry was induced in the fission rate density profile of a fuel rod modeled in DeCART. Two-way data transfer was established by mapping the temperature distribution from BISON to DeCART. A Picard iterative algorithm was developed for the loose coupling with two-way data transfer.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Pages1234-1246
Number of pages13
StatePublished - 2013
EventInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013 - Sun Valley, ID, United States
Duration: May 5 2013May 9 2013

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Volume2

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySun Valley, ID
Period05/5/1305/9/13

Keywords

  • BISON
  • DeCART
  • Method of characteristics
  • Multiphysics
  • Nuclear fuel performance

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