An optimized CFD method for conceptual flow design of water cooled ceramic blanket

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a significant method for conceptual design of Water Cooled Ceramic Blanket (WCCB), since it could provide three-dimensional results with high accuracy. However, full CFD modeling and simulation toward the whole blanket flow channels is computationally expensive. An optimized CFD method based on partial modeling toward manifold regions is developed to overcome this disadvantage. Several flow conditions inside the First Wall (FW) and Cooling Plates (CPs) are simulated by the proposed method and the full modeling method. The maximum difference in mass flow rate prediction is 1.2%. The highest reductions in mesh size and modeled volume are 64.1% and 75.6% respectively. Results indicate that the newly developed method could provide accurate predictions with little computing resource requirements.