Published: 03 Oct 2024
General
Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced that it has completed a
significant milestone under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) to
develop a ‘Nuclear Fuel Digital Twin’, a modeling and simulation capability
intended to help accelerate the process of nuclear fuel qualification and
licensing for current and next generation reactor materials. GA-EMS completed
preliminary development of four individual performance models in support of its
SiGA® silicon carbide (SiC) composite cladding technology.
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS states that, “A digital twin is a
virtual representation of a physical object or system – in this case our SiGA
cladding nuclear fuel system. When complete, this digital twin will allow us to
predict SiGA performance within a nuclear reactor core, reducing fuel
development and testing costs and reducing the time it will take to get
regulatory approval for this revolutionary technology, without sacrificing
safety.”
The four
individual physics-informed models capture the complex mechanical response of
SiGA cladding while exposed to irradiation. A multi-scale modeling approach was
taken where each individual model covers a different length scale – from a
mechanism-based microscale model to a reactor system level model. In future
work, these individual models will be combined into one integrated model called
a digital twin.
GA-EMS’ SiGA composite is a continuous SiC fiber reinforced, SiC matrix composite material that is the backbone of the company’s cladding technology. SiGA cladding provides both safety and economic benefits to the utilities as it can survive temperatures far beyond that of current materials and can reduce the frequency of fuel reloads.
“Our work integrally involves dedicated laboratory testing as we develop each performance model. We look forward to continuing to the next phase to bring these individual models together and incorporate them into a greater digital twin framework. Utilization of the framework to apply the separate effects models appropriately will bring a new level of sophistication and accuracy to efficiently predict fuel performance.”
GA-EMS is near completion of a 30-month contract with the DOE to deliver individual models for nuclear-grade SiGA materials to form the basis of a future digital twin. Under a synergistic program, GA-EMS recently announced irradiation testing of its silicon carbide composite tubes and the manufacture of the first full-length (12 foot) silicon carbide composite tubes designed for pressurized water reactors. Under contract with the DOE, GA-EMS is advancing SiGA cladding technology to enhance nuclear fuel efficiency and improve safety for current and future nuclear reactors.
Published: 03 Oct 2024
General
Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced that it has completed a
significant milestone under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) to
develop a ‘Nuclear Fuel Digital Twin’, a modeling and simulation capability
intended to help accelerate the process of nuclear fuel qualification and
licensing for current and next generation reactor materials. GA-EMS completed
preliminary development of four individual performance models in support of its
SiGA® silicon carbide (SiC) composite cladding technology.
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS states that, “A digital twin is a
virtual representation of a physical object or system – in this case our SiGA
cladding nuclear fuel system. When complete, this digital twin will allow us to
predict SiGA performance within a nuclear reactor core, reducing fuel
development and testing costs and reducing the time it will take to get
regulatory approval for this revolutionary technology, without sacrificing
safety.”
The four
individual physics-informed models capture the complex mechanical response of
SiGA cladding while exposed to irradiation. A multi-scale modeling approach was
taken where each individual model covers a different length scale – from a
mechanism-based microscale model to a reactor system level model. In future
work, these individual models will be combined into one integrated model called
a digital twin.
GA-EMS’ SiGA composite is a continuous SiC fiber reinforced, SiC matrix composite material that is the backbone of the company’s cladding technology. SiGA cladding provides both safety and economic benefits to the utilities as it can survive temperatures far beyond that of current materials and can reduce the frequency of fuel reloads.
“Our work integrally involves dedicated laboratory testing as we develop each performance model. We look forward to continuing to the next phase to bring these individual models together and incorporate them into a greater digital twin framework. Utilization of the framework to apply the separate effects models appropriately will bring a new level of sophistication and accuracy to efficiently predict fuel performance.”
GA-EMS is near completion of a 30-month contract with the DOE to deliver individual models for nuclear-grade SiGA materials to form the basis of a future digital twin. Under a synergistic program, GA-EMS recently announced irradiation testing of its silicon carbide composite tubes and the manufacture of the first full-length (12 foot) silicon carbide composite tubes designed for pressurized water reactors. Under contract with the DOE, GA-EMS is advancing SiGA cladding technology to enhance nuclear fuel efficiency and improve safety for current and future nuclear reactors.
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