Researching a New Fuel for the HFIR: Advancements at ORNL Require Multiphysics Simulation to Support Safety and Reliability
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- COMSOL Multiphysics
Tech Stack
- Multiphysics Simulation
- Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Productivity Improvements
- Innovation Output
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
Applicable Industries
- National Security & Defense
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Process Control & Optimization
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
- Testing & Certification
About The Customer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a multi-disciplinary research facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. It is managed by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. ORNL is known for its cutting-edge research in various fields, including nuclear science, materials science, and energy production. The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at ORNL is a key facility that provides neutron scattering capabilities, stable and radio isotopes, and unique irradiation experiment facilities. The HFIR is used by over 500 researchers from around the world each year and is one of the highest steady-state neutron flux reactors globally. ORNL's mission includes advancing scientific knowledge, supporting national security, and contributing to technological innovation. The laboratory collaborates with academia, industry, and government agencies to achieve its research and development goals.
The Challenge
The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is undergoing a conversion from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel to meet the Global Threat Reduction Initiative's requirements. This conversion presents a complex challenge due to the unique fuel and core design of the HFIR, as well as its high power density. The primary challenge is to ensure that the new LEU fuel can maintain the reactor's performance, safety, and reliability. Researchers need to evaluate the impact of the fuel change on various aspects such as neutron scattering, isotope production, irradiation experiments, and neutron activation analyses. Additionally, the HFIR will need to operate at a higher power level (100 MW) to maintain the same neutron flux, which increases the demands on the reactor's thermal margin and safety.
The Solution
Researchers at ORNL are using COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation software to explore the impact of converting the HFIR from HEU to LEU fuel. The new fuel design involves reducing the uranium-235 enrichment from 93% to 19.75%. To accommodate changes in nuclear characteristics, density, and thermal properties, the HFIR core fuel meat must be redesigned. Preliminary studies indicate that the HFIR will need to operate at 100 MW to maintain the same neutron flux, increasing thermal demands. The COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to conduct fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations to evaluate the safety and performance of the new fuel design. These simulations help predict fuel plate deflections and ensure that the reactor can maintain the required coolant flow rate. Validation studies are conducted to prove the accuracy of the COMSOL code, ensuring that the models are reliable and meet safety standards. The fully-coupled FSI approach in COMSOL has shown excellent agreement with experimental results, providing confidence in the new fuel design.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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