PROTEUS-SN User Manual

Abstract

PROTEUS-SN is a three-dimensional, highly scalable, high-fidelity neutron transport code developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The code is applicable to all spectrum reactor transport calculations, particularly those in which a high degree of fidelity is needed either to represent spatial detail or to resolve solution gradients. PROTEUS-SN solves the second order formulation of the transport equation using the continuous Galerkin finite element method in space, the discrete ordinates approximation in angle, and the multigroup approximation in energy. PROTEUS-SN's parallel methodology permits the efficient decomposition of the problem by both space and angle, permitting large problems to run efficiently on hundreds of thousands of cores. PROTEUS-SN can also be used in serial or on smaller compute clusters (10's to 100's of cores) for smaller homogenized problems, although it is generally more computationally expensive than traditional homogenized methodology codes. PROTEUS-SN has been used to model partially homogenized systems, where regions of interest are represented explicitly and other regions are homogenized to reduce the problem size and required computational resources.

Initial Comparison of Direct and Legacy Modeling Approaches for Radial Core Expansion Analysis

“…The PROTEUS-SN code [2,3,4] developed at Argonne National Laboratory solves neutron transport problems defined on an unstructured finite element mesh. The unstructured finite element capability differentiates PROTEUS-SN from most other transport solvers which are limited to a semi-structured grid at best (repeated lattice with detailed pins), with extruded geometry in the axial direction.…”

Enhancements to the SHARP Build System and NEK5000 Coupling

“…The Diablo code developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) uses implicit finite element methods to simulate nonlinear structural mechanics and heat transfer phenomena [6] and is used by the SHARP framework to calculate deformations in the reactor mesh by coupling to the temperature calculated by Nek5000. Results from preliminary simulations of the full Advanced Burner Test Reactor (ABTR) indicate that Diablo is fully capable of coupling to PROTEUS and Nek5000 via the SHARP framework [12].…”

End-User Evaluation of SHARP for Analysis of Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors

“…This transfer required significant efforts in export control review, and technical efforts to install and test on ANL computing platforms. The SHARP neutronics module PROTEUS [3,4] and thermal-hydraulics module Nek5000 [5] were both primarily developed at ANL, as were the tools to couple the codes under the MOAB [6] framework and to facilitate mesh generation with RGG [7].…”

“…Besides these training sessions, the SHARP development team provided continuous support to the ART end-users as they test out the tools. In addition, the collaboration helped incentivize the development of documentation, including revisions to the PROTEUS User's Manual and Methodology Manual in August 2014 [3,4] and a March 2014 updated draft of the Diablo User's Manual [2].…”

“…SHARP is comprised of several components, including physical modeling tools, tools to integrate the physics codes for multi-physics analyses, and a set of tools to couple the codes within the MOAB [6] framework. Physics modules currently include the PROTEUS [3] neutronics code, the Nek5000 [5] thermal-hydraulics code, and the Diablo [2] structural mechanics code. Development efforts in each of these physics modules were initiated by other programs prior to NEAMS existence (although PROTEUS was quite immature), which allows NEAMS to leverage prior investments.…”