Multiphysics simulation of fast transients with the FINIX fuel behaviour module

Abstract

FINIX is a recently developed fuel behaviour module that is designed to provide “simple but sufficient” descriptions of the most essential fuel behaviour phenomena in multiphysics simulations. In such simulations, it is possible to obtain significant improvement in the feedback to neutronics or thermal hydraulics modelling even with a relatively simple fuel performance model. In this work, FINIX is used as an internal fuel behaviour module both in reactor physics and in reactor dynamics codes to simulate coupled behaviour in fast transient scenarios. With the Monte Carlo reactor physics code Serpent we model a prompt transient in a VVER-1000 pin cell, and with the reactor dynamics code HEXTRAN, a control rod ejection accident in a VVER-440 reactor.