Assessment of CFD codes for nuclear reactor safety problems

This report is a consolidation of document NEA/SEN/SIN/AMA(2005)3, which aimed to evaluate the existing CFD assessment basis, identify gaps that need to be filled in order to adequately validate CFD codes for application to NRS problems, and propose a methodology for establishing assessment matrices relevant to NRS needs. The document is a revision of the original, and has been compiled by members of an expert Writing Group, WG2, under the auspices of the OECD/NEA secretariat. The group met three times during the period January 2005 to August 2007, the dates chosen to coordinate with the activities of the sister groups WG1 (Best Practice Guidelines) and WG3 (Multiphase Extensions).
The group has concentrated on single-phase phenomena, considering that two-phase CFD is not yet of sufficient maturity for a useful assessment basis to be constructed and that identification of the development areas (the task of Writing Group 3) should be undertaken first. The organisation of the report reflects the tasks the Group set itself.
To review critically the NRS problems where the use of CFD is needed for the analysis or where its use is expected to result in major benefits.
To review critically the existing assessment basis for CFD application to NRS issues.
To identify the gaps in the technology base, and the need for further development effort.
To organise a web-based NRS assessment database, regulated by an NEA webmaster.
To continue to look for suitable experiments that could form the basis of benchmarking exercises that are specifically tailored to NRS needs.
To organise an International Workshop, with OECD/NEA sponsorship, to promote the availability and distribution of experimental data suitable for NRS benchmarking, and to monitor the current status of CFD validation exercises relevant to NRS issues.
Beyond 2007, an amalgamation of Writing Groups WG1, WG2 and WG3, together with the NEA web-master and secretariat, is proposed to drive the activities further. This would be a core group of no more than five persons, meeting once per year.
This document is now submitted to the Working Group on the Analysis and Management of Accidents (GAMA) for evaluation.