SIMULATE-5 is a 3D, steady-state, multi-group nodal code for the analysis of both PWRs and BWRs. SIMULATE-5 combines intelligent engineering features with unparalleled accuracy for advanced core designs with increased heterogeneity and aggressive operating strategies.
The new SIMULATE-5 neutronic engine accurately models even the most challenging core designs.
Automated calculation routines in SIMULATE-5 result in fewer mistakes and greater productivity.
SIMULATE-5 independent results are better than ever before, minimizing your fuel costs.
SIMULATE-5 has been completely rewritten with a focus on first-principle physics, far exceeding the capabilities of existing methods:
SIMULATE-5 solves the multi-group diffusion or, optionally, the simplified P3 equations. Cross sections are described by a hybrid microscopic-macroscopic model that includes approximately 50 heavy nuclides and fission products (17 actinides, 30+ fission products and burnable absorbers). Heterogeneities in the axial direction of an assembly are treated explicitly. Radially, the assembly is divided into heterogeneous submeshes, thereby overcoming the shortcomings of spatially-averaged assembly cross-sections and discontinuity factors generated with zero net-current boundary condition.
In the improved pin power reconstruction module of SIMULATE-5, the heterogeneous pin powers are calculated by modulating homogeneous multi-group pin powers from the submesh solver with pin form factors from single-assembly CASMO-5 lattice physics calculations. The multi-group pin power module captures instantaneous spectral effects, the actinide tracking on the assembly submesh describes exposure-induced pin power variations.
SIMULATE-5 has been parallelized to support multi-platform shared-memory parallel programming on all architectures. Taking full advantage of multi-core processors, reactor simulation run-times can be reduced significantly.
SIMULATE-5 is built on over 25 years of real-world engineering experience. Several new automated engineering features have been incorporated into the core product to accompany the long list of existing features:
The SIMULATE-5 input format is simple to use, allowing free-format input capable of modeling complex core layouts and includes automated functions to simplify tedious engineering calculations. With practical defaults for PWRs and BWRs, robust error checking, and seamless interfaces to other Studsvik core analysis tools, SIMULATE-5 allows engineers to spend their time analyzing, not troubleshooting software.
The improvements in SIMULATE-5’s calculation engine dramatically increase the accuracy of cycle eigenvalue behavior, cycle length predictions, cold critical eigenvalue, and startup predictions for heterogeneous cores and long cycle lengths. The microscopic depletion model improves history modeling for more efficient power maneuvering over long-length cycles.
SIMULATE-5 has native support for inputting as-built enrichment and loading values, ensuring that the model is as close to what’s actually in the core as possible. Shutdown cooling and pin power reconstruction are now more accurate than ever before, making for better thermal margin calculations and more accurate isotopic inventories.
SIMULATE-5 efficiently and accurately verifies core loading pattern designs even with complicated core designs containing:
SIMULATE-5 maintains the proven, easy-to-use input/output formats of its predecessors - allowing users to model light water reactor cores loaded with fuel from any vendor consistently and accurately. Existing users will experience a seamless transition as SIMULATE-5 was built to maintain compatibility with all derivative products (SIMULATE-3K/S3R).
SIMULATE-5 includes an all-new four-equation thermal-hydraulic engine that unifies BWR and PWR modeling inside the reactor core. In each axial node of a channel, the total mixture mass, steam mass, mixture enthalpy, and mixture momentum balance equations are solved and void fractions are determined by a drift flux model.
For pressurized water reactors, a unified model allows for voiding, with each assembly having an active channel and a number of parallel water channels. The PWR core treats assembly cross-flow by solving the axial and lateral momentum equations. Outside of the core, PWR thermal-hydraulics are calculated from the lower to upper tie plates.
For boiling water reactors, SIMULATE-5 models the entire vessel loop: core, chimney (for natural circulation reactors), upper plenum, standpipes, steam separators, downcomer, re-circulation pumps, and lower plenum. The BWR assembly may be divided into four radial sub-channels, which communicate via cross-flow (or are closed for SVEA-type fuel). The cross flows are determined by solving lateral momentum equations.
SIMULATE-5 also offers a DNBR evaluation.
All thermodynamic quantities in SIMULATE-5 are now evaluated by using the modern NIST/ASME steam/water function library.
