On the Choice Between Segregated and Coupled Solver Approaches When Using Computational Fluid Dynamics for Gas-Cooled Reactor Analysis

Abstract

In this study, computational fluid dynamics solutions are obtained for a General Atomics GT-MHR reactor core under a depressurization scenario involving highly compressible flow. It is found that while the FLUENT segregated solver is generally preferred for nuclear engineering applications, the coupled solver provides better performance at very high pressure ratios in this application.