Stern Laboratories employs state-of-the-art computer simulation technology to develop realistic models to better understand various engineering problems. Such simulations, validated by the experimental data, are ideal platforms to be used for design improvement methodologies.
Using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, in conjunction with High Performance Computing (HPC) capacity, engineers develop best practice solution strategies to address the design requirements most efficiently. The areas of interest include, but are not limited to, reactor thermalhydraulics, reactor core coolant flow simulations [1-3], two-phase flow modelling, Critical Heat Flux (CHF), Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT), etc.
Full-scale CFD models of a CANDU fuel channel have been developed and the results have been used to study the geometrical effects, such as fuel bundle geometry and pressure tube creep, on thermalhydraulic performances.
[1] F. Abbasian, G. I. Hadaller, and R. A. Fortman, 2015, “SINGLE-PHASE AND TWO-PHASE CFD SIMULATIONS OF THE COOLANT FLOW INSIDE A BRUCE/DARLINGTON CANDU FLOW CHANNEL” NURETH-16, Chicago, IL, 30 August to 4 September 2015 [2] F. Abbasian, G. I. Hadaller, and R. A. Fortman, 2013, “ADVANCED CFD SIMULATIONS OF TURBULENT FLOWS AROUND APPENDAGES IN CANDU FUEL BUNDLES” 12th International Conference on CANDU Fuel Holiday‐Inn Waterfront Hotel Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 2013 15-18 September [3] F. Abbasian, G. I. Hadaller, and R. A. Fortman, 2010, “ CFD SIMULATIONS OF THE SINGLE-PHASE AND TWO-PHASE COOLANT FLOW OF WATER INSIDE THE ORIGINAL AND MODIFIED CANDU 37-ELEMENT BUNDLES” 11th International Conference on CANDU Fuel Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, 2010, 17-20 October.