This summary describes the main achievements of H2020 McSAFE project. The main achievements can be summarized as follows:
- First of the kind multi-physics Monte Carlo / thermal hydraulic coupled codes for the analysis of transients e.g. using Serpent2/SCF, Tripoli4/SCF.
- Novel and advanced multi-physics codes (e.g. Serpent2/SCF/TU) based on the ICoCo able to perform full core depletion calculation at pin level due to collision-based domain decomposition, improved memory management of TU, and optimized convergence.
- Two robust coupling methods:ICoCo and an internal master-sleeve at pin-level
- Massive use of HPC at KIT and in Europe paved the way for truly first-of-the-kind detailed simulations of full LWR-cores with square and hexagonal fuel assemblies at pin/subchannel level.
- The implementation of different variance reduction methods for both depletion and dynamic simulations to the reduction of the statistical noise and increasing the prediction accuracy
- McSAFE provided validated tools based on test data (SPERT-III E REA) and plant data PWR (square FA) and VVER-1000 Temelin (hexagonal FA)
- Innovations of Monte Carlos codes to facilitate the prediction of safety-relevant parameters with low statistical uncertainty and with few iterations, stable/robust schemes for depletion and criticality simulations e.g. proper variance reduction methods, optimal parallel execution, etc.
- McSAFE tools rerpresent a huge and significant step towards industry-like applications of the novel MC-based multiphysics tools for the safety assessments of LWR-cores.
- Inherent features of MC-codes to describe the geometrical details of cores have high potential for their application to other reactor designs e.g. of Generation III and research reactors
- Complementary expertise of the McSAFE-partners (universities: KIT, KTH), research centres (KIT, CEA, UJV, HZDR, VTT, JRC Karlsruhe), utilities (PEL, CEz and EdF), etc. were crucial for mastering the challenges.
