Solving fission and fusion’s toughest challenges with advanced simulation tools.
Designing and operating advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors requires precise modeling and simulation of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, electromagnetics and nuclear reactions. These interactions are complex, and inaccuracies and long runtimes can increase risk or delay progress.
ORNL’s Multiphysics CFD Applications group is addressing some of the toughest problems in nuclear engineering, using modeling and simulation tools to de-risk nuclear technologies, shorten development cycles, and bring novel designs to life faster and more efficiently than traditional methods.
Engineering the next generation of reactors through simulation
The Multiphysics CFD Applications group brings together scientists and engineers with deep expertise in both engineering and software development. Their cross-disciplinary skills enable them to:
- Continuous development and application of the Fusion Energy Reactor Models Integrator (FERMI) software platform to industrial and in-house fusion devices on world-class computing platforms, including ORNL’s Frontier supercomputer.
- Design, optimization and validation of innovative reactor components.
- Deliver digital twins of nuclear systems for performance evaluation and design exploration.
- Conduct high-fidelity analysis for both fission and fusion systems.
- AI applications to nuclear engineering
This unique blend of domain expertise ensures the group can rapidly iterate and evaluate reactor concepts, bridging the gap between concept and deployment.
Innovation that matters
Innovation that matters
The group’s work is directly aligned with ORNL’s mission to deliver scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs that accelerate the deployment of solutions in energy and global security. Our recently published patent for a nested pebble bed blanket in a fusion reactor is a key milestone in fusion blanket systems, and if successful, represents the first fusion blanket at a matured technology readiness level.
Impactful collaborations
The group partners with national labs, industry, and DOE programs to accelerate progress in nuclear energy:
- Leading the development of the Nested Pebble Bed Blanket through an ARPA-E Vision 2024 award.
- Design collaboration through Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing/Fusion Reactor Design and Assessment awards
- Co-developing the multiphysics in-house code VERTEX as co-co-principal investigators
- Partnering with Xcymer to design novel blanket technologies through the INFUSE program
- Leading blanket design for commercial fusion through DOE Milestone programs ( Tokamak Energy)
- Providing advanced simulations and analysis for HFIR pressure vessel replacement
Scientific impact and future vision
Through cutting-edge modeling, simulation, and high-performance computing, the Multiphysics CFD group is shaping the future of nuclear fission and fusion energy—accelerating innovation, improving performance, derisking the designs and enabling the nuclear and fusion reactors of tomorrow.