MOOSE Reactor Module: An Open-Source Capability for Meshing Nuclear Reactor Geometries

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program has developed numerous physics solvers utilizing the open-source Multiphysics Object-Oriented Environment (MOOSE) framework for multiphysics reactor analysis. These require input finite element meshes representing discretized spatial domain. Typically, analysts turn to licensed tools creation geometry meshes. Recently, functionality been added MOOSE mesh common geometries improve MOOSE-based nuclear application user workflows. new is primarily contained in Reactor module includes support hexagonal pins, assemblies, cores, extended Cartesian support, options modeling static rotating control drums within a assembly, core periphery triangulation, automatic tagging pin, plane, depletion regions easier post processing results. A set builder objects further streamlines construction cores allows mapping materials during generation.The produced with may be used directly applications or exported as Exodus II files use other solvers. have demonstrated verified using variety NEAMS on range applications, including sodium-cooled fast analysis Griffin, assembly thermal deformation Tensor Mechanics, heat-pipe-cooled microreactor coupled Bison, Sockeye. MOOSE’s provides significant advantages compared external meshing when analyzing lattices applications: immediate accessibility (open-source) end user, low barrier entry users, speed generation, volume preservation meshed fuel simplification workflow conjunction applications.