This report summarizes the current status of VERA-CS Verification and Validation for PWR Core
Follow operation and proposes a multi-phase plan for continuing VERA-CS V&V in FY17 and
FY18. The proposed plan recognizes the hierarchical nature of a multi-physics code system such as
VERA-CS and the importance of first achieving an acceptable level of V&V on each of the single
physics codes before focusing on the V&V of the coupled physics solution. The report
summarizes the V&V of each of the single physics codes systems currently used for core follow
analysis (ie MPACT, CTF, Multigroup Cross Section Generation, and BISON / Fuel Temperature
Tables) and proposes specific actions to achieve a uniformly acceptable level of V&V in FY17.
The report also recognizes the ongoing development of other codes important for PWR Core Follow
(e.g. TIAMAT, MAMBA3D) and proposes Phase II (FY18) VERA-CS V&V activities in which
those codes will also reach an acceptable level of V&V.
The report then summarizes the current status of VERA-CS multi-physics V&V for PWR Core
Follow and the ongoing PWR Core Follow V&V activities for FY17. An automated procedure and
output data format is proposed for standardizing the output for core follow calculations and
automatically generating tables and figures for the VERA-CS Latex file. A set of acceptance
metrics is also proposed for the evaluation and assessment of core follow results that would be used
within the script to automatically flag any results which require further analysis or more detailed
explanation prior to being added to the VERA-CS validation base. After the Automation Scripts
have been completed and tested using BEAVRS, the VERA-CS plan proposes the Watts Bar cycle
depletion cases should be performed with the new cross section library and be included in the first
draft of the new VERA-CS manual for release at the end of PoR15. Also, within the constraints
imposed by the proprietary nature of plant data, as many as possible of the FY17 AMA Plant Core
Follow cases should also be included in the VERA-CS manual at the end of PoR15.
After completion of the ongoing development of TIAMAT for fully coupled, full core calculations
with VERA-CS / BISON 1.5D, and after the completion of the refactoring of MAMBA3D for CIPS
analysis in FY17, selected cases from the VERA-CS validation based should be performed,
beginning with the “legacy” cases of Watts Bar and BEAVRS in PoR16. Finally, as potential
Phase III future work some additional considerations are identified for extending the VERA-CS
V&V to other reactor types such as the BWR.