NRC certification made possible with Ansys simulations.
Disclaimer: Shawn Wasserman is a former employee of Ansys and holds minor stocks in the organization.
Ansys says its simulation technology played a big role in the design and certification of a small modular reactor (SMR) developed by the nuclear technology company NuScale Power. According to the release, this is the first SMR system to be fully certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
What sets the NuScale reactor apart is its ability to self-regulate. According to thermal and structural simulations, the reactor is completely passive. It will shut down and cool without operator input, computer commands, AC/DC power or additional water. Heat transfer velocity, temperature, thermal stress and dynamic vibration simulations were included in this assessment.
Thanks to the NRC certification, utilities applying for licenses to produce a plant can leverage these pre-approved designs. As a result, NuScale expects its reactors will be deployed by the end of the decade.
“This is a milestone achievement for NuScale, the nuclear energy sector, and global energy market as a whole,” said Walt Hearn, senior vice president of worldwide sales and customer excellence at Ansys. “By implementing Ansys’ extensive multiphysics simulation and virtual prototyping, NuScale has made history in developing the first-ever, NRC-approved SMR. Ansys is committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions and this is a remarkable example of how we can leverage the predictive insights of simulation to create a cleaner future.”
