Turbulence synthetization methods in porous media from detailed simulations for multi-scale simulations of nuclear cores
The production of electricity through nuclear energy plays a crucial role in the energy transition due to its low carbon impact. To continuously improve safety and performance, it is essential to develop new knowledge and tools.
The core of a nuclear reactor consists of thousands of fuel rods traversed by a turbulent flow. This flow can cause vibrations, leading to wear. Two flow scales are identified: a local scale, where the fluid interacts with the rods, and a global scale, representing the flow distribution within the core. The local scale requires CFD simulations and fluid-structure coupling, while the global scale can be modeled using averaged approaches, such as porous media simulations.
Coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations at the CFD scale are limited to small domains. To overcome this limitation, multi-scale approaches are required, combining large-scale porous media simulations and detailed small-scale CFD simulations. The goal of the thesis is to develop methods for synthesizing turbulence from the results of porous media simulations to improve boundary conditions for CFD simulations. The candidate will first study how existing turbulence models can provide details on turbulent flow at the component scale, and then how to synthesize turbulence for local CFD simulations.
This PhD project is the subject of a collaboration between the IRESNE Institute (CEA) and the ASNR (main execution site of the thesis) in Cadarache. Funding is provided by a MSCA Doctoral Network. The PhD student will be integrated into a network of 17 PhD students. To be eligible, the candidate must have resided no more than 12 months in the last 36 months in France.
Mass transfers and hydrodynamic coupling: experimental investigation and models validation and calibration
With the energy transition and the paramount importance of the nuclear energy in this context, it is pivotal to understand the consequences of potential accident with core meltdown, as well as thinking about mitigation strategy.
During a nuclear severe accident with core meltdown a magma called corium can form a pool in the reactor lower head. The pool is not homogeneous and can stratify into multiple immiscible layers. The composition of the pool may evolve in time, due to progressive material assimilation. With the evolution of the global composition of the corium, the properties of the layers evolve. The vertical position of these layer may then change. This change comes with the creation of droplets from a layer which then cross the other one. The vertical order of the different layers as well as their movements have a significant impact on the heat fluxes imposed on the reactor vessel. A better understanding of these phenomena improves safety of both nowadays and future nuclear reactors.
Modelling work has been done, but it lacks validation and need calibration. Prototypical experiments (with actual materials present inside a reactor) are difficult to carry and are not foreseen in the near future. This PhD aims at experimentally studying the mass transfer between a droplet and its surrounding as well as the droplet creation. The planned experimental setup will use a water-based system which allow for local measurement. The goal is to validate, calibrate the existing model, and potentially create new ones. The final goal being to capitalize the work into PROCOR software platform. The experimental setup will be constructed and operated in LEMTA laboratory in University of Lorraine, where the student will work.
The PhD work will be mainly experimental but will also require software use for calibration, validation and for the design of the experimental setup. This work will be conducted in close collaboration between the laboratories LMAG in CEA/IRESNE (Cadarache) and LEMTA in University of Lorraine (Nancy). The student will work in LEMTA, where the experiments will be conducted, while being part of the CEA. The student will benefit from LEMTA’s expertise in building of experimental setup, transport phenomena in fluids and metrology, and from LMAG’s expertise in mass transfer, physical modeling and simulation in the scope of nuclear severe accidents. The student will regularly interact with CEA team which will follow the work closely. The student will therefore have to regularly go to CEA Cadarache.
The PhD student will be integrated to a dynamic environment comprised of researchers and other PhD students. The PhD candidate needs to be knowledgeable in transport phenomena, and needs to have a taste for experimental sciences.
Multiphysic modeling of sintering of nuclear fuel pellet: effect of atmosphere on shrinkage kinetics
Uranium dioxide (UO2) fuels used in nuclear power plants are ceramics, for which solid-phase sintering is a key manufacturing step. The sintering stage involves heat treatment under controlled partial O2 pressure that induces coarsening of UO2 grain and then consolidation and densification of the material. Grain growth induce material densification and macroscopic shrinkage of the pellet. If the green pellet (powder obtained by pressing, manufacturing step before sintering) admit a highly heterogeneous density, this gradient leading to differential shrinkage and the appearance of defects. Furthermore, the sintering atmosphere, i.e., the gas composition in the furnace, impacts grain growth kinetics and thus the shrinkage of the pellet. Advanced simulation is the key to improving understanding of the mechanisms observed as well as optimizing manufacturing cycles.
The PhD thesis aims at developing a Thermo-chemo-mechanical modeling of sintering to simulate the impact of the gas composition and properties on the pellet densification. This scale will enable us to take into account not only the density gradients resulting from pressing, but also the oxygen diffusion kinetics that have a local impact on the densification rate, which in turn impacts the transport process. Therefore, a multiphysics coupling phenomenon has to be modelled and simulated.
This thesis will be conducted within the MISTRAL joint laboratory (Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS/Centrale Marseille CEA-Cadarache IRESNE institute). The PhD student will leverage his results through publications and participation in conferences and will have gained strong skills and expertise in a wide range of academic and industrial sectors.