Fundamental concepts in the Cyclus nuclear fuel cycle simulation framework

Authored by Matthew J Gidden, Paul P H Wilson, Kathryn D Huff, Robert W Carlsen, Robert R Flanagan, Meghan B McGarry, Arrielle C Opotowsky, Erich A Schneider, Anthony M Scopatz

Date Published: 2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.advengsoft.2016.01.004

Sponsors: United States National Science Foundation (NSF) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP)

Platforms: CYCLUS

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

As nuclear power expands, technical, economic, political, and environmental analyses of nuclear fuel cycles by simulators increase in importance. To date, however, current tools are often fleet-based rather than discrete and restrictively licensed rather than open source. Each of these choices presents a challenge to modeling fidelity, generality, efficiency, robustness, and scientific transparency. The CYCLUS nuclear fuel cycle simulator framework and its modeling ecosystem incorporate modern insights from simulation science and software architecture to solve these problems so that challenges in nuclear fuel cycle analysis can be better addressed. A summary of the CYCLUS fuel cycle simulator framework and its modeling ecosystem are presented. Additionally, the implementation of each is discussed in the context of motivating challenges in nuclear fuel cycle simulation. Finally, the current capabilities of CYCLUS are demonstrated for both open and closed fuel cycles. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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