Computational fluid dynamics throughout the desing process in nuclear applications

GUSTAVO C. BUSCAGLIA; ENZO A. DARI; DANIELA L. ARNICA; AXEL E. LARRETEGUY; CLAUDIO MAZUFRI

Applications of Computational Mechanics in Structures and Fluids

CIMNE

Lugar: Barcelona; Año: 2005; p. 123 - 140

Though Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is recognized as an emerging engineering tool, it is not infrequent that engineering projects make little or no use of it during the early design stages. CFD codes, if used at all, are left for the final stages in which an already finished design is tested to confirm its performance before construction. Scaled mock-ups are also used at these stages, but in many cases they are economically unaffordable. In a nuclear reactor the operational radiation dose results from coupled processes of coolant flow and species radioactive decay. Thermal-hydraulic phenomena such as stratification, stagnation and inappropriate flow pattern should thus be considered from the early design stages. In this article we want to report on an innovative experience in this direction, namely the application of CFD since the first stages of the design of some components of the reactor to be built by INVAP S. E. in Lucas Height, Australia, for the Australian National Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO). The analysis of the aforementioned components leads, sooner or later, to the need for massive three-dimensional simulations which can only be performed with high performance computing techniques. This motivates a brief description of the software (PAR-GPFEP, presented in MECOM´2000) and of the hardware (Linux PC-cluster) used to successfully produce the simulations. The two case studies addressed in this presentation elaborate on the scientific, software-related and strategic aspects of CFD consulting work throughout the design process. Though the application is specific to the nuclear industry, the methodologies are applicable to many other areas of engineering design.