Design for integrated pyroprocessing plant level simulator

Pyroprocessing has been studied for a decade as one of the promising fuel recycling options in Korea. Most studies have focused on test-based research, which is often limited, expensive, and time-consuming. Thus, modeling and simulation studies began to complement or overcome test-based research. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) suggested a modeling architecture for pyroprocessing consisting of three-tiered models: unit process, operation, and plant-level models. The unit process model can be addressed using governing equations or empirical equations as a continuous system (CS). In contrast, the operation model describes the operational behaviors as a discrete event system (DES). The plant-level model is an integrated model of the unit process and an operation model with various analysis modules. An interface with different systems, incorporation of a different code, the database design, and the implementation of a dynamic material flow are discussed as components for the framework of the plant-level model. This paper addresses the current status of the pyroprocessing modeling and simulation at KAERI, and discusses its path forward.