A benchmark exercise on the use of CFD codes for containment issues using best practice guidelines: A computational challenge

In the framework of the 5th EU-FWP project ECORA the capabilities of CFD software packages for simulating flows in the containment of nuclear reactors was evaluated. Four codes were assessed using two basic tests in the PANDA facility addressing the transport of gases in a multi-compartment geometry. The assessment included a first attempt to use Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) for the analysis of long, large-scale, transient problems. Due to the large computational overhead of the analysis, the BPGs could not fully be applied. It was thus concluded that the application of the BPGs to full containment analysis is out of reach with the currently available computer power. On the other hand, CFD codes used with a sufficiently detailed mesh seem to be capable to give reliable answers on issues relevant for containment simulation using standard two-equation turbulence models. Development on turbulence models is constantly ongoing. If it turns out that advanced (and more computationally intensive) turbulence models may not be needed, the use of the BPGs for ‘certified’ simulations could become feasible within a relatively short time.