• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.1219-1225
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• 2017

In this work, a scalable algorithm for model calibration in nuclear engineering applications is presented and tested. The algorithm relies on the construction of surrogate models to replace the original model within the region of interest. These surrogate models can be constructed efficiently via reduced order modeling and subspace analysis. Once constructed, these surrogate models can be used to perform computationally expensive mathematical analyses. This work proposes a surrogate based model calibration algorithm. The proposed algorithm is used to calibrate various neutronics and thermal-hydraulics parameters. The virtual environment for reactor applications-core simulator (VERA-CS) is used to simulate a three-dimensional core depletion problem. The proposed algorithm is then used to construct a reduced order model (a surrogate) which is then used in a Bayesian approach to calibrate the neutronics and thermal-hydraulics parameters. The algorithm is tested and the benefits of data assimilation and calibration are highlighted in an uncertainty quantification study and requantification after the calibration process. Results showed that the proposed algorithm could help to reduce the uncertainty in key reactor attributes based on experimental and operational data.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.1487-1503
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• 2019

The methods and performance of a pin-level nuclear reactor core thermal-hydraulics (T/H) code ESCOT employing the drift-flux model are presented. This code aims at providing an accurate yet fast core thermal-hydraulics solution capability to high-fidelity multiphysics core analysis systems targeting massively parallel computing platforms. The four equation drift-flux model is adopted for two-phase calculations, and numerical solutions are obtained by applying the Finite Volume Method (FVM) and the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equation (SIMPLE)-like algorithm in a staggered grid system. Constitutive models involving turbulent mixing, pressure drop, and vapor generation are employed to simulate key phenomena in subchannel-scale analyses. ESCOT is parallelized by a domain decomposition scheme that involves both radial and axial decomposition to enable highly parallelized execution. The ESCOT solutions are validated through the applications to various experiments which include CNEN $4{\times}4$, Weiss et al. two assemblies, PNNL $2{\times}6$, RPI $2{\times}2$ air-water, and PSBT covering single/two-phase and unheated/heated conditions. The parameters of interest for validation include various flow characteristics such as turbulent mixing, spacer grid pressure drop, cross-flow, reverse flow, buoyancy effect, void drift, and bubble generation. For all the validation tests, ESCOT shows good agreements with measured data in the extent comparable to those of other subchannel-scale codes: COBRA-TF, MATRA and/or CUPID. The execution performance is examined with a mini-sized whole core consisting of 89 fuel assemblies and for an OPR1000 core. It turns out that it is about 1.5 times faster than a subchannel code based on the two-fluid three field model and the axial domain decomposition scheme works as well as the radial one yielding a steady-state solution for the OPR1000 core within 30 s with 104 processors.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.310-323
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• 2023

The k-eigenvalue neutronics/thermal-hydraulics coupling calculation is a key issue for reactor design and analysis. Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) method, featured with super-linear convergence rate and high efficiency, has been attracting more and more attention to solve the multi-physics coupling problem. However, it may converge to the high-order eigenmode because of the multiple solutions nature of the k-eigenvalue form of multi-physics coupling issue. Based on our previous work, a modified JFNK with a line search method is proposed in this work, which can find the fundamental eigenmode together with thermal-hydraulics feedback in a wide range of initial values. In detail, the existing modified JFNK method is combined with the line search strategy, so that the intermediate iterative solution can avoid a sudden divergence and be adjusted into a convergence basin smoothly. Two simplified 2-D homogeneous reactor models, a PWR model, and an HTR model, are utilized to evaluate the performance of the newly proposed JFNK method. The results show that the performance of this proposed JFNK is more robust than the existing JFNK-based methods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권8호
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• pp.1603-1610
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• 2020

Due to ever-growing advancements in computers and relatively easy access to them, many efforts have been made to develop high-fidelity, high-performance, multi-physics tools, which play a crucial role in the design and operation of nuclear reactors. For this purpose in this study, the neutronic Monte Carlo and thermal-hydraulic sub-channel codes entitled MCNP and COBRA-EN, respectively, were applied for external coupling with each other. The coupled code was validated by code-to-code comparison with the internal couplings between MCNP5 and SUBCHANFLOW as well as MCNP6 and CTF. The simulation results of all code systems were in good agreement with each other. Then, as the second problem, the core of the VVER-1000 v446 reactor was simulated by the MCNP4C/COBRA-EN coupled code to measure the capability of the developed code to calculate the neutronic and thermohydraulic parameters of real and industrial cases. The simulation results of VVER-1000 core were compared with FSAR and another numerical solution of this benchmark. The obtained results showed that the ability of the MCNP4C/COBRA-EN code for estimating the neutronic and thermohydraulic parameters was very satisfactory.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.379-388
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• 2018

Models for the rate of atomization and deposition of droplets for stratified and annular flow in horizontal pipes are presented. The entrained fraction is the result of a balance between the rate of atomization of the liquid layer that is in contact with air and the rate of deposition of droplets. The rate of deposition is strongly affected by gravity in horizontal pipes. The gravitational settling of droplets is influenced by droplet size: heavier droplets deposit more rapidly. Model calculation and simulation results are compared with experimental data from various diameter pipes. Validation for the suggested models was performed by comparing the Safety and Performance Analysis Code for Nuclear Power Plants calculation results with the droplet experimental data obtained in various diameter horizontal pipes.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2001년도 춘계학술발표회요약집
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• pp.259.1-259
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• 2001

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.35-44
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• 1997

Critical too-Phase flow rates of subcooled water through Short Pipes (L 140039n) with small diameters (D$\leq$7.15 min) have been experimentally investigated for wide ranges of subcooling (0~199$^{\circ}C$) and pressure (0.5~2.0 MPa). To examine the effects of various parameters (i.e., the location of flashing inception, the degree of subcooling, the stagnation temperature and pressure, and the pipe size) on the critical two-phase flow rates of subcooled water through short pipes with small diameters, a total of 135 runs were made for various combinations of test parameters using four different L/D test sections. Experimental results that show effect of various parameters on subcooled critical two phase flow rates are presented in the form of graphs such as the dimensionless mass flux ( $G^{*}$) versus the dimensionless subcooling ( $T_{sub}$$^{*}$) curve. An empirical correlation expressed in terms of a dimensionless subcooling is also obtained for subcooled two-phase flow rates through present test sections. Comparisons between the mass fluxes calculated by present correlation and a total of 755 selected experimental data points of 9 different investigators show that the agreement is fairly good except for very low subcooling data obtained from small L/D (less than 10) orifices.s.s.s.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1996년도 춘계학술발표회논문집(2)
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• pp.193-198
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• 1996

In this study the RETRAN-03 code was modified to analyze the thermal-hydraulic transients under three-dimensional ship motions for the application to the future marine reactors. First Japanese nuclear ship MUTSU reactor have been analyzed under various ship motions to verify this code. As results, typical thermal-hydraulic characteristics of marine reactors such as flow rate oscillations and S/G water level oscillations are successfully simulated at various conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.279-296
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• 2010

For the analysis of transient two-phase flows in nuclear reactor components, a three-dimensional thermal hydraulics code, named CUPID, has been developed. The CUPID code adopts a two-fluid, three-field model for two-phase flows, and the governing equations were solved over unstructured grids, which are very useful for the analysis of flows in complicated geometries. To obtain numerical solutions, the semi-implicit numerical method for the REALP5 code was modified for an application to unstructured grids, and it has been further improved for enhanced accuracy and fast running. For the verification of the CUPID code, a set of conceptual problems and experiments were simulated. This paper presents the flow model, the numerical solution method, and the results of the preliminary assessment.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.356-367
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• 2018

A series of tests dedicated to station blackout (SBO) accident scenarios have been recently performed at the $Prim{\ddot{a}}rkreislauf-Versuchsanlage$ (primary coolant loop test facility; PKL) facility in the framework of the OECD/NEA PKL-3 project. These investigations address current safety issues related to beyond design basis accident transients with significant core heat up. This work presents a detailed analysis using the best estimate thermal-hydraulic code TRACE (v5.0 Patch4) of different SBO scenarios conducted at the PKL facility; failures of high- and low-pressure safety injection systems together with steam generator (SG) feedwater supply are considered, thus calling for adequate accident management actions and timely implementation of alternative emergency cooling procedures to prevent core meltdown. The presented analysis evaluates the capability of the applied TRACE model of the PKL facility to correctly capture the sequences of events in the different SBO scenarios, namely the SBO tests H2.1, H2.2 run 1 and H2.2 run 2, including symmetric or asymmetric secondary side depressurization, primary side depressurization, accumulator (ACC) injection in the cold legs and secondary side feeding with mobile pump and/or primary side emergency core coolant injection from the fuel pool cooling pump. This study is focused specifically on the prediction of the core exit temperature, which drives the execution of the most relevant accident management actions. This work presents, in particular, the key improvements made to the TRACE model that helped to improve the code predictions, including the modeling of dynamical heat losses, the nodalization of SGs' heat exchanger tubes and the ACCs. Another relevant aspect of this work is to evaluate how well the model simulations of the three different scenarios qualitatively and quantitatively capture the trends and results exhibited by the actual experiments. For instance, how the number of SGs considered for secondary side depressurization affects the heat transfer from primary side; how the discharge capacity of the pressurizer relief valve affects the dynamics of the transient; how ACC initial pressure and nitrogen release affect the grace time between ACC injection and subsequent core heat up; and how well the alternative feeding modes of the secondary and/or primary side with mobile injection pumps affect core quenching and ensure stable long-term core cooling under controlled boiling conditions.