Nuclear engineering

Physics

Finite element method

Heat transfer

Mechanics

Operating system

Microreactor

Engineering

Catalysis

Neutron

Thermal hydraulics

Nuclear physics

Chemistry

Nuclear fuel

Computer science

Transient (computer programming)

Multiphysics

Nuclear reactor

Biochemistry

Neutron transport

Mechanical engineering

Thermodynamics

Nuclear Technology

DireWolf is a multiphysics software driver application designed to simulate heat pipe–cooled nuclear microreactors. Developed under the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, the DireWolf software application’s objective is to provide the nuclear community with a design and safety analysis simulation capability. Based upon the NEAMS program Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) computational framework, DireWolf tightly couples nuclear microreactor physics, reactor physics, radiation transport, nuclear fuel performance, heat pipe thermal hydraulics, power generation, and structural mechanics to resolve the interdependent nonlinearities. DireWolf is capable of simulating both steady and transient normal reactor operation and several postulated failure scenarios. We will present the fundamental physics of heat pipe–cooled nuclear microreactors and the MOOSE-based software employed in DireWolf. Both steady and transient results for coupled reactor physics, radiation transport, and nuclear fuel performance are demonstrated.

Coupled Multiphysics Simulations of Heat Pipe Microreactors Using DireWolf