NURESIM – A European simulation platform for nuclear reactor safety: Multi-scale and multi-physics calculations, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design 2011-09, Vol.241 (9), p.3416-3426
• Main Authors: Chauliac, Christian, Aragonés, José-Maria, Bestion, Dominique, Cacuci, Dan Gabriel, Crouzet, Nicolas, Weiss, Frank-Peter, Zimmermann, Martin A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computer programs; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear reactors; Platforms; Simulation; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2010.09.040

► A reference simulation platform for nuclear reactor applications. ► Offering capacity for multi-scale and multi-physics computations and for uncertainty quantification. ► Developed and supported by a European united team according to a general roadmap. ► Presentation of the main achievements and future developments. Starting in 2005 with the NURESIM Integrated Project (FP6), a European Reference Simulation Platform for Nuclear Reactors called NURESIM is being developed. This development follows a roadmap which is consistent with the SRA (Strategic Research Agenda) of the European SNETP (Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform). After delivery of two successive versions during the course of the NURESIM project, the numerical simulation platform is presently being developed in the frame of the NURISP European Collaborative Project (FP7), which includes 22 organizations from 14 European countries. NURESIM intends to be a reference platform providing high quality software tools, physical models, generic functions and assessment results. The NURESIM platform provides an accurate representation of the physical phenomena by promoting and incorporating the latest advances in core physics, two-phase thermal-hydraulics and fuel modelling. It includes multi-scale and multi-physics features, especially for coupling core physics and thermal-hydraulics models for reactor safety. Easy coupling of the different codes and solvers is provided through the use of a common data structure and generic functions (e.g., for interpolation between nonconforming meshes). More generally, the platform includes generic pre-processing, post-processing and supervision functions through the open-source SALOME software, in order to make the codes more user-friendly. The platform also provides the informatics environment for testing and comparing different codes. For this purpose, it is essential to permit connection of the codes in a standardized way. The standards are being progressively built, concurrently with the process of developing the platform. The NURESIM platform and the individual models, solvers and codes are being validated through challenging applications corresponding to nuclear reactor situations, and including reference calculations, experiments and plant data. Quantitative deterministic and statistical sensitivity and uncertainty analyses tools are also developed and provided through the platform. A Users’ Group of European and non-European countries, including ve