Towards an Integrated Nuclear Physics Simulation Framework: Extension of HYDRA for Criticality and Burnup Calculations

The objective of this thesis is to extend the capabilities of HYDRA by introducing a Criticality Modular Workflow (CMW), enabling the automated execution of reactor physics calculations, including criticality and burnup analyses, within the existing HYDRA framework.

The first part of the thesis will consist of a literature study of the existing methodologies for criticality calculations, and an assessment of modelling requirements associated with criticality and burnup calculations. The student will investigate the capabilities and workflows implemented in major reactor physics Monte Carlo codes, including MCNP, Serpent and OpenMC, if present. This assessment will focus on identifying the required functionalities for criticality calculations, depletion modelling, nuclear data management, material evolution, and result processing. Based on this analysis, the student will define the requirements for integrating criticality capabilities into HYDRA.

In a second step, the student will propose an updated HYDRA architecture capable of supporting criticality and burnup workflows while preserving the modularity and scalability of the existing framework. Particular attention will be given to the extension of HYDRA’s universal geometry generation language to support criticality and burnup studies, the improvement of HYDRA’s volume computation methods and workflows to enable robust and automated volume determination, the clear tracking of inventory evolution, and the automated post-processing and visualisation of results. The proposed architecture will ensure compatibility with the existing shielding, activation, and residual dose workflows.

Finally, the proposed Criticality Modular Workflow will be implemented within HYDRA. The implementation will initially target MCNP and a second reactor physics Monte Carlo code selected by the student based on the performed capability assessment and on The Binding Energy’s current and future application needs. The developed workflow will be demonstrated on representative test cases to assess its functionality, flexibility and potential integration within future nuclear engineering studies.

As a final stage, the new workflow will be validated against previously established reference results, and its efficiency will be compared with that of a manually defined and processed workflow.

The expected outcome of this thesis is the extension of HYDRA into a more comprehensive nuclear simulation framework, capable of addressing not only radiation protection and activation studies but also reactor physics applications requiring criticality and burnup calculations.

Het vereiste minimumdiploma van de kandidaat

• Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen
• Master in de industriële wetenschappen
• Master in de wetenschappen

De vereiste achtergrondkennis van de kandidaat

• Physics Engineering (Particle-Matter interactions, Monte Carlo codes, etc.) with an interest in reactor physics and code development (Python, Github, Object-Oriented, etc.)

Geschatte looptijd

Integrated in the BNEN programme.