Benchmark of the Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor-350 MW Core Design
Ongoing
NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS) workshop series, 7-15 December 2020.

Helium-cooled very high-temperature gas reactors are highlighted as a key technology with the potential to improve the competitiveness of nuclear energy within the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). Developing tools and methods to support this technology is seen as a priority by NEA member countries. The purpose of the benchmarking exercise is to compare various coupled core physics and thermal fluids analysis methods available in the high-temperature reactor (HTR) community. The modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) design serves as a basis for the benchmark, with some aspects having been modified for simplicity and consistency. Exercises and results will enhance the detailed understanding of events and processes, and identify where further efforts should be directed to improve modelling and simulation capabilities.

Related topics
  • Nuclear science
  • Multiphysics
  • Publications and reports
    3
    results
    Objectives

    The benchmark exercise has the following objectives:

    • establish a standard benchmark for coupled codes (neutronics/thermal-fluids) for PMR design;
    • code-to-code comparisons using a common cross-section library;
    • obtaining a detailed understanding of the events and the processes;
    • benefitting from different approaches, understanding limitations and approximations;
    • organising a special session at a conference/special issue of the publication.

    Technical reports

    The technical topics presented in the final documentation of the benchmark exercise are:

    • Volume I: MHTGR benchmark definition
    • Volume II: Steady-state test case definitions
    • Volume III: Lattice depletion case definitions
    • Volume IV: Transient test case definitions

    Extranet

    Contact

    Ian Hill