FY18 Progress on Improvements and V&V of MC²-3 and PROTEUS

Abstract

The PROTEUS code is a high-fidelity capable deterministic neutron transport code based on unstructured finite element meshes, which solves the steady-state and transient neutron transport problem using the 2 nd -order discrete ordinate method (SN2ND), the method of characteristics (MOC), and the advanced nodal transport method (NODAL). The PROTEUS system in a broader sense consists of cross section generation tools, mesh generation tools, and output post processing tools as well as neutron transport solvers.The main accomplishments in the FY18 NEAMS neutronics tasks are that the computational performance and the simplified thermal feedback of PROTEUS-MOC were significantly improved, that the transient simulation capability as well as the molten salt reactor (MSR) simulation capabilities were successfully implemented to PROTEUS-NODAL, that the MC 2 -3 versions with the updated thermal cross section capability and threedimensional MOC capability were integrated, and that further verification and validation tests were performed with the updated PROTEUS demonstrating the applicability and accuracy of the code.The computational performance of PROTEUS-MOC was upgraded by implementing the partial-current based coarse mesh finite difference (CMFD) option, the conventional transport sweeping option, and the preconditioner to the steady-state CMFD solution scheme. In addition, the multigroup CMFD option was added to the transient solution scheme, showing significant improvements in the computational performance.

Multiphysics Coupling of PROTEUS-NODAL and SAM for Molten Salt Reactor Simulation

“…For transient calculations, the TWIGL benchmark problem modified by converting the original Cartesian geometry to the hexagonal one [16] was solved. At each time node, a significant reduction is achieved in both the number of outer iterations and the computational time as presented in Fig.…”

“…The P1 transient solver was first verified with the modified TWIGL benchmark problem [16]. The same hexagonal geometry core of six rings of 22.5 cm-pitch hexagons was used for both the P1 and SP3 solver.…”