EU-U.S. research alliance strengthens nuclear safety
Flow-induced vibrations (FIVs) play a critical role in both the safety and performance of nuclear power plants. FIVs occur in the reactor core, where fuel rods can vibrate, and in the steam generators, where tubes separate radioactive water from clean water. If these structures wear down, they can cause radioactive leaks. Preventing such failures is at the core of the EU-funded GO-VIKING(opens in new window) project’s objectives. “The vision is to improve the understanding and analysis of FIV,” explains project coordinator Angel Papukchiev from Germany’s GRS(opens in new window). “Our goal is to improve prediction so that risks can be reduced.”
Sharing strengths to drive innovation
GO-VIKING was designed as a joint effort from the beginning. European teams carried out experiments and developed advanced codes to simulate vibration behavior. U.S. partners brought complementary strengths: access to high-performance computing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory(opens in new window) and expertise in fluid-structure interaction. Combining research excellence from the EU and U.S. will help to boost safety on both sides of the Atlantic. The consortium brought together universities, research institutes, industry partners, and technical safety organizations. This mix ensured outcomes were aligned with operational needs and regulatory frameworks. Papukchiev highlights why U.S. involvement was essential: “Our American partners have access to some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. These run high-fidelity simulations that the European partners cannot perform at this scale, delivering insights we can’t obtain from experiments alone.” Some of these simulations are demanding, requiring months of computing time to model just one second of vibration. U.S. supercomputers provide highly detailed data that European teams are using to validate faster-running models. At the same time, American partners benefit from EU partners tailoring methods for practical use by utilities, helping to ensure that results are both rigorous and relevant.
From experiments to simulations
Their collaboration has been active since the project’s first days. For example, experiments at the University of Manchester provided essential test cases. U.S. teams needed extensive input from these experiments to build their models, while European partners required the generated U.S. high-fidelity numerical data to validate their own faster-running codes. This iterative loop has already delivered results. GO-VIKING has produced new experimental datasets of unprecedented detail, alongside fast-running mathematical models. These models sacrifice some accuracy, however, deliver reliable results in a fraction of the time, making them useful for stakeholders such as utilities and regulators. The project is also preparing best-practice guidelines on how to analyze different types of FIV, with the aim of publishing them openly for industry and public use. Additionally, training courses are planned to ensure that the methods reach the next generation of nuclear engineers.
Tangible outcomes and tools
GO-VIKING has delivered a number of key outcomes that contribute to improved nuclear reactor safety and efficiency. It has produced new high-resolution experimental datasets that are being used to validate new, fast-running simulation tools that provide operators and regulators with reliable and efficient analyses. Aside from technical advances, the project has also developed tools to enhance plant availability and support long-term reactor operation. It has created standardized benchmarks for the industry and implemented uncertainty quantification methods to ensure the reliability of simulation results. GO-VIKING has also directly engaged with stakeholders, holding workshops to align its research with industry and regulatory needs. Lastly, the EU-U.S. collaboration has laid the groundwork for future partnerships, both within European projects and in international frameworks such as the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. “We will definitely invite the U.S. partners to future projects,” concludes Papukchiev. “They give us another perspective, access to different sources and literature, and there is a clear common interest to work together again.”