Method for computer modeling the core of a nuclear reactor

US7428479B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AREVA NP · FR

Inventors

• Rainer Böer · Schwarzenbek, DE
• Lothar Hetzelt · Erlangen, DE
• Horst-Dieter Kiehlmann · Erlangen, DE
• Hans Winter · Gelnhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 2005
• Grant date: Sep 23, 2008
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a computer modeling method for the core of a nuclear reactor the core is divided into a plurality of primary grids in the form of coarse mesh cells. A sub-section of the core relating to at least one grid is assigned to that grid. The sub-section includes that grid and a buffer zone that surrounds the grid horizontally and contains at least the grid that lies immediately adjacent to the first grid. The sub-section is sub-divided into a plurality of secondary grids—fine mesh cells—that are smaller than the primary grids. In a first computing step, a model of the core is calculated using a nodal calculation method, based on a respective dataset that is assigned to each primary grid. In a second computing step, a respective second dataset is assigned to each secondary grid of a sub-section and a model is then calculated for the sub-section, based on the dataset and the flows on the border of the sub-section that have been calculated in the first computing step.