FY2010 - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Director’s R&D Fund—
Advanced Energy Systems
1–4 kW load power at a 10 in. gap between antennas. This distance is more than sufficient for most
vehicles in use today.
This work generated a patent for a frequency operating point below the resonance value, whose efficiency
is much higher than the efficiency at the resonant operating frequency. While the total power level is
reduced at this new operating point, it is still more than sufficient to provide the desired power levels.
05424
Revolutionary Radiation Transport for Next-Generation Predictive
Multiphysics Modeling and Simulation
John C. Wagner, Thomas M. Evans, Scott W. Mosher, Douglas E. Peplow, and John A. Turner
Project Description
Nuclear power is a viable and proven technology for carbon-free production of electricity. For some time,
efforts have been under way to develop advanced nuclear energy systems that offer significant
improvements with respect to cost, safety, and sustainability. However, the pace at which these new
technologies can be developed and deployed into viable options and our ability to advance the state of the
art for such systems are limited by inherent approximations in our aging computational tools and
approach. There is a definite need for, and programmatic opportunities associated with, drastic, not
incremental, improvements in our modeling and simulation (M&S) capabilities. Responding to this need,
this project proposes to leverage our recently developed and unique hybrid (deterministic/Monte Carlo)
radiation transport methods, codes, capabilities, and associated experience to establish a revolutionary
change in radiation transport M&S and to ensure that ORNL remains at the forefront of this transition.
We will develop a parallel, hybrid radiation transport M&S package that will be operable within a
multiphysics framework and provide a distinguishing anchor for pursuing programmatic funding for
further capability development. The work will emphasize fission reactor analysis, though it will provide
an enabling, predictive M&S capability that could substantially advance the state of the art in many areas
and support a leadership role in computational modeling for nuclear energy and national security
applications.
Mission Relevance
The work is focused on developing an enabling, “game changing” radiation transport capability that will
have direct applicability and benefits to addressing the nation’s nuclear technology challenges, including
(1) design of new nuclear power systems and support of safe, economical, and extended operation of
existing fission-based reactors; (2) full-scale fuel cycle facility analyses for safety and safeguards;
(3) national security applications; and (4) evaluation of risks associated with geologic disposal of defense
and commercial nuclear waste. The proposed capability will have direct relevance to the following
organizations: DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, related to large-scale reactors, fuels, waste disposal,
shielding, and safeguards M&S; DOE Office of Science, Fusion Energy Science Program, related to
M&S for ITER, the proposed Fusion Nuclear Science Facility, and hybrid fusion–fission concepts;
Department of Homeland Security and Defense Threat Reduction Agency, related to M&S for
applications such as radiation from an improvised nuclear device in an urban environment; and NNSA,
related to M&S to support nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards.
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