Comparison of spatial dynamics and point kinetics approaches in multiphysics modeling of the molten salt reactor experiment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this work, we present validation test results of fully coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulics models of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) against experimental data of the zero power pump transients and the natural circulation tests at low power. To capture the strong coupling between neutronics and thermal-hydraulics due to fuel circulation, and to account for the delayed neutron precursor (DNP) distribution, the porous media thermal-hydraulics solver Pronghorn was fully coupled to the spatial neutron dynamics code Griffin, which solves the neutron diffusion equation, and to the 0-D point kinetics solver Squirrel, using a 2-D homogenized representation of the MSRE. The validation test results show very good agreement with experimental data for both point kinetics and spatial dynamics simulations, capturing the strong feedback effect and DNP losses in the MSRE. The 0-D code Squirrel accurately predicted the time-dependent behavior in the MSRE given the steady-state spatial dynamics solution of Griffin.
Source: Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering
Institutions: Technical University of Denmark, Idaho National Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,353
OpenAlex ID: W4413224197