Multiphysics modeling of nuclear reactors

Article By:

Avramova, Maria N. Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ivanov, Kostadin N. Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Last reviewed:2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB150702

Although nuclear reactors are complicated physical systems, in general their principal function is to utilize the nuclear fission process to produce heat that is transferred to another material such as water to produce steam, which is used to produce electricity through a turbine. The nuclear fission process, heat transfer mechanisms, and nuclear fuel and material performance are some of the key physical phenomena to understand in a nuclear power plant (NPP), as these have significant impact on the safety and operation of the plant. The nuclear industry and its regulators have always prioritized safety and reliability in the operation of nuclear power plants. Thus the nuclear industry has emphasized the development, validation, and application of reliable predictive modeling capabilities for both normal and accident conditions, and these capabilities have evolved from so-called best-estimate calculations to first-principle, high-fidelity multiphysics simulations. See also: Heat transfer; Nuclear fission; Nuclear power; Nuclear reactor; Turbine

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