Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms
This paper presents the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) oriented geometrical optimization using the GeN-Foam solver applied to subchannels of the fuel assembly in a PWR-type nuclear reactor. GeN-Foam is a coarse mesh OpenFOAM solver designed to study nuclear engineering problems invol...
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Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2704 |
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| author | Carlos Rodrigo Dias Tiago Augusto Santiago Vieira Andre Augusto Campagnole dos Santos Graiciany de Paula Barros Vitor Vasconcelos Araújo Silva Ana Luiza Miranda Froes Rebeca Cabral Gonçalves Keferson de Almeida Carvalho Higor Fabiano Pereira de Castro |
| author_facet | Carlos Rodrigo Dias Tiago Augusto Santiago Vieira Andre Augusto Campagnole dos Santos Graiciany de Paula Barros Vitor Vasconcelos Araújo Silva Ana Luiza Miranda Froes Rebeca Cabral Gonçalves Keferson de Almeida Carvalho Higor Fabiano Pereira de Castro |
| author_sort | Carlos Rodrigo Dias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This paper presents the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) oriented geometrical optimization using the GeN-Foam solver applied to subchannels of the fuel assembly in a PWR-type nuclear reactor. GeN-Foam is a coarse mesh OpenFOAM solver designed to study nuclear engineering problems involving the coupled solution of thermohydraulics, neutronics and thermomechanics. However, the solver could be used for complex geometry simulations, enabling multi-scale coupled simulations. To use GeN-Foam under these conditions, the results of the code for complex geometry simulation had to be evaluated. This assessment involved comparing the results obtained with the solver and those presented in a literature reference study. Despite the higher numerical diffusivity of the solver, this comparison demonstrated that GeN-Foam is capable of studying the fluid dynamics of fuel assemblies in nuclear reactors for both coarse and refined geometry conditions. After GeN-Foam was assessed, optimization was performed on subchannels of a fuel assembly using Genetic Algorithms (GA), evaluating the influence of geometric parameters of the spacer grids to minimize pressure drop and maximize secondary flow. Pareto Front solutions were assessed to identify a geometry that best balanced these two objectives. The optimized model showed better results than the reference study, as expected. However, the results also highlight the need to incorporate thermal physics and neutronics to ensure that the optimized solution meets the subchannel´s flow and heat exchange requirements. All tools used in this work are well-established in the literature, free, and open-source.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-642966792a6846a38da721e2bb0339f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2319-0612 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-642966792a6846a38da721e2bb0339f52025-08-20T03:28:13ZengBrazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences2319-06122025-05-01124B (Suppl.)10.15392/2319-0612.2024.27042329Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic AlgorithmsCarlos Rodrigo Dias0Tiago Augusto Santiago Vieira1Andre Augusto Campagnole dos Santos2Graiciany de Paula Barros3Vitor Vasconcelos Araújo Silva4Ana Luiza Miranda Froes5Rebeca Cabral Gonçalves6Keferson de Almeida Carvalho7Higor Fabiano Pereira de Castro8Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia NuclearCentro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear This paper presents the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) oriented geometrical optimization using the GeN-Foam solver applied to subchannels of the fuel assembly in a PWR-type nuclear reactor. GeN-Foam is a coarse mesh OpenFOAM solver designed to study nuclear engineering problems involving the coupled solution of thermohydraulics, neutronics and thermomechanics. However, the solver could be used for complex geometry simulations, enabling multi-scale coupled simulations. To use GeN-Foam under these conditions, the results of the code for complex geometry simulation had to be evaluated. This assessment involved comparing the results obtained with the solver and those presented in a literature reference study. Despite the higher numerical diffusivity of the solver, this comparison demonstrated that GeN-Foam is capable of studying the fluid dynamics of fuel assemblies in nuclear reactors for both coarse and refined geometry conditions. After GeN-Foam was assessed, optimization was performed on subchannels of a fuel assembly using Genetic Algorithms (GA), evaluating the influence of geometric parameters of the spacer grids to minimize pressure drop and maximize secondary flow. Pareto Front solutions were assessed to identify a geometry that best balanced these two objectives. The optimized model showed better results than the reference study, as expected. However, the results also highlight the need to incorporate thermal physics and neutronics to ensure that the optimized solution meets the subchannel´s flow and heat exchange requirements. All tools used in this work are well-established in the literature, free, and open-source. https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2704GeN-FoamSpacer gridsPWROptimization |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Rodrigo Dias Tiago Augusto Santiago Vieira Andre Augusto Campagnole dos Santos Graiciany de Paula Barros Vitor Vasconcelos Araújo Silva Ana Luiza Miranda Froes Rebeca Cabral Gonçalves Keferson de Almeida Carvalho Higor Fabiano Pereira de Castro Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences GeN-Foam Spacer grids PWR Optimization |
| title | Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms |
| title_full | Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms |
| title_fullStr | Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms |
| title_short | Geometrical optimization of PWR spacer grids using GeN-Foam and Genetic Algorithms |
| title_sort | geometrical optimization of pwr spacer grids using gen foam and genetic algorithms |
| topic | GeN-Foam Spacer grids PWR Optimization |
| url | https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2704 |
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