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At least 37 records · Page 2

Systematic multi-machine analysis of the exhaust time-dependent behavior in tokamaks

The understanding of the time-scales and associated transient behavior of fusion exhaust plasmas plays a crucial role in its dynamic modeling and its control. This work presents an overview of experimental investigations of the exhaust dynamics in TCV, MAST-U, ASDEX-Upgrade, WEST, DIII-D, and JET. From the presented experiments, a clear picture arises on properties of the exhaust dynamics across machines. Particularly, we observe that the scrape-off layer equilibrates on fast time-scales ($>$ 70 Hz) and that exhaust dynamics measured in response to gas valve modulations mostly behave smoothly and linearly, with similarities across devices, across scenarios (H-mode, L-mode), injected species, and injection locations. The measurements presented have formed the basis for systematic exhaust control on the considered devices. We now present this database for the essential validation of dynamic exhaust models for reactor design and control.

control↗

Characterizing Flow Instabilities During Transient Events in the Turbine Rim Seal Cavity

Abstract Gas turbine engine design requires considerations not only for long-term steady operation but also for critical transient events. Aircraft engines undergo significant stress during takeoff and landing, while power generation turbines must be flexible for hot restarts as renewable energy sources come online and offline. During these transient cycles, engines sustain wear and degradation that can lead to a reduction in the lifespan of their components and more frequent, costly maintenance. Cooling flows are often used to mitigate these effects, but can lead to complex and problematic flow interactions. This study uses high-frequency response pressure probes and heat flux gauges in the rim seal cavity of a one-stage research turbine to characterize the properties of large-scale flow structures during transient operation. A continuous-duration turbine testing facility provides the ability to assess the importance of these transients by first reaching steady-state operation before imposing transient behaviors. Although previous studies have conducted similar measurements for steady purge flows and wheel speeds, varying these parameters to simulate transient effects revealed several unique phenomena not identifiable with discrete steady measurements. The measurement approach connects the varied transient parameter to the behavior of the flow structures to enable a better understanding of the type of instability observed and the root cause of its formation. In particular, a relationship between instability cell formation and rim sealing effectiveness was identified using experimental data and was supported through computational simulations.

Engineering↗

Transient Analysis of a Micro-reactor using the DireWolf Code Suite

Transient analyses of heat pipe micro-reactors are necessary to ensure that hypothetical accident scenarios do not comprise reactor safety. Due to its small size and reliance on heat-pipes for cooling, the micro-reactor design introduced in this paper is a tightly coupled system which requires multi-physics tools to accurately model transient events. Idaho National Laboratory’s DireWolf code suite based on the MOOSE framework is tailor-built to model heat-pipe reactors. This paper demonstrates DireWolf’s ability to simulate the coupled thermal-neutronics transient behavior of a heat-pipe micro-reactor. The transient events presented here include an inadvertent rotation of all control drums simultaneously and a sudden complete ejection of a single control drum. A detailed description of each event is provided along with simulation results, including time dependent power and temperature distributions, and discussion. This is a Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) led publication.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Transient analysis of a micro-reactor using the DireWolf code suite

Transient analyses of heat pipe micro-reactors are necessary to ensure that hypothetical accident scenarios do not comprise reactor safety. Due to its small size and reliance on heat-pipes for cooling, the micro-reactor design introduced in this paper is a tightly coupled system which requires multi-physics tools to accurately model transient events. Idaho National Laboratory's DireWolf code suite based on the MOOSE framework is tailor-built to model heat-pipe reactors. This paper demonstrates DireWolf's ability to simulate the coupled thermal-neutronics transient behavior of a heat-pipe micro-reactor. The transient events presented here include an inadvertent rotation of all control drums simultaneously and a sudden complete rotation of a single control drum. A detailed description of each event is provided along with simulation results, including time dependent power and temperature distributions, and discussion. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Understanding Transient Combustion Phenomena in Low-NO x Gas Turbines

The goal of this work was to understand, quantify, and eventually predict combustion instability during operational transients in low-NO x gas turbine combustors. Transient operation is defined as a mode where one or more key operating parameters, including equivalence ratio, fuel composition, or fuel splitting between nozzles in a combustor, are varying in time. The timescale over which this variation occurs will be referred to as the transient timescale, the magnitude of the change in the transient parameter will be referred to as the transient amplitude, and the direction of the variation will be referred to as the transient direction. Transients occur regularly in power generation gas turbine operation. For example, load-following gas turbines vary load to meet power demands while accounting for variation in unsteady grid contributors like wind and solar power. Operators achieve this by varying equivalence ratio and fuel splitting inside the combustors to produce more or less power. Another example of transient operation is during fuel-switching operations, a particular issue for turbines operating with syngas fuels in a co-generation facility. In this case, the composition of the fuel stream may vary in time either as a result of fluctuations in the pipeline, or in the case of a co-generation plant, variations in feedstock or gasification processes. This fluctuation in fuel composition can have significant implications for combustion processes, particularly with high-hydrogen fuels. A small number of studies have investigated transient behavior in gas turbine combustors, particularly in the context of flame blow-off; here, investigators have typically focused on issues of transient amplitude, though without the depth and physics-based experimental design that is proposed in this program. To our knowledge, there have been no studies that have quantified the impact of the transient timescale on combustion. The work helped us understand the impact of several types of transients on combustion stability. Both static and dynamic combustion stability will be considered. The transients will be quantified using their amplitude, direction, and timescale, and we will consider transients in equivalence ratio, fuel composition, and fuel splitting. There were two main objectives of this work: 1. Provide a fundamental understanding of combustion stability during transient operation using data obtained from a number of high-speed diagnostic techniques on experimental configurations that capture important gas turbine combustor features and operating conditions. This goal was met in conjunction with our industrial partner, GE Global Research, with whom we worked closely throughout the program. 2. Develop a stability prediction framework that will allow for the prediction, and possible control, of instabilities as a function of the transient amplitude, direction, and timescale. This input/output model should be physics-based and allow for screening of operating conditions and prediction of unstable behavior at the end of a transient by monitoring combustor health and precursor signals during operation.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

High-Bandwidth Low-Inductance Current Shunt for Wide-Bandgap Devices Dynamic Characterization

High bandwidth sensors are required to measure the wide-bandgap devices' transient behavior because of their fast switching speed. In addition to high bandwidth, the current sensor must introduce little extra parasitic inductance to the switching power loop. The analysis of conventional shunt resistors shows the key to high bandwidth is the coaxial structure and its parasitic inductance is proportional to its transient heat energy rating. Additionally, by combining the structure of coaxial shunt resistor and alumina substrate surface mount thin film resistors, a novel surface mount coaxial shunt resistor is introduced. Experimental measurement verifies its capability of achieving very high bandwidth while introducing very low parasitic inductance. The design can achieve up to 2.23-GHz measurement bandwidth while keeping its parasitic inductance as low as 0.12 nH. Application in gallium nitride heterojunction-field-effect-transistors double pulse test shows it can faithfully capture the transient current waveform while introducing little interference to the switching behavior.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Transient uncertainty quantification and Global Sensitivity Analysis of the open-source Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) using GP-PCA surrogate models

Uncertainties in the thermophysical properties of molten salts impact both the steady-state and transient behavior of Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs). In this work, we aim to quantify the influence of such uncertainties on the transient operation of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE), utilizing the open-source specifications provided for this reactor. Seven representative transient scenarios are considered. For each scenario, we evaluate the impact of thermophysical property uncertainties on four key multiphysics model output variables of interest (VoIs): maximum power density, maximum fuel temperature, maximum reflector temperature, and average fuel velocity magnitude. In addition, we perform a Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) by computing Sobol’ indices for the uncertain input parameters to determine their contribution to the variability of each VoI. Conducting GSA is computationally intensive due to the large number of required evaluations of the high-fidelity multiphysics model. To mitigate this cost, we develop a surrogate modeling framework that combines Gaussian Process (GP) regression with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), enabling efficient sample generation for the GSA. Our results show that for energy-related VoIs, thermal conductivity is the dominant contributor to uncertainty. In contrast, for flow-related VoIs, density and dynamic viscosity are the primary sources of uncertainty. The specific heat of the fuel salt was found to play a secondary role in the transient analyses.

42 - ENGINEERING↗

Multiphysics Modeling of Microreactors with NEAMS codes, and Validation Based on KRUSTY Reactivity Insertion

The NEAMS Multiphysics Applications team continues to assess code usability and functionality for microreactor design and safety analyses, while demonstrating that NEAMS tools capture both steady-state and transient behavior across distinct microreactor concepts. In FY2025, the team advanced full-core, high-fidelity, multiphysics models that solve more complex problems and strengthen verification/validation for several microreactor systems: heat-pipe microreactor (HPMR), gas-cooled microreactor (GCMR), and the KRUSTY experiment. These models employ the MOOSE MultiApp/Transfers architecture with Griffin for neutronics, BISON for heat conduction/thermomechanics, Sockeye for heat pipes, SAM/THM for coolant channels and loops, and SWIFT for hydride behavior, with meshes generated via the MOOSE Reactor Module. The graphite models available in the Grizzly code were also investigated for future analyses. For the HPMR, a Na-HPMR variant was constructed to align with recently validated heat-pipe experiments and Sockeye’s LCVF capability, enabling mechanistic heat-pipe transients and startup modeling. The Na-HPMR will serve as the primary model for HPMR investigations in upcoming tasks. The load-following and single heat-pipe failure scenarios (Griffin/BISON/Sockeye), which were previously modeled for the K-HPMR, were replicated for the Na-HPMR, showing strong negative temperature feedback and highly localized thermal effects, respectively, while the startup case captured vapor-front progression and heat-removal activation. Solid mechanics was added to the previously built K-HPMR full-core model in BISON, showing minimal impact on steady-state reactivity yet enabling stress-field predictions that prepare the path for full-core TRISO performance analyses. For the GCMR, automated steady-state and four transient scenarios were executed using Griffin/BISON/SAM/SWIFT. Results confirm robust inherent safety: power collapses promptly in loss-of-cooling events, the inlet-temperature drop settles to a new equilibrium, and a single-channel blockage yields only a ~30 K local fuel-temperature rise with <0.4% power decrease. SWIFT-predicted hydrogen redistribution affects reactivity during both steady-state and transient conditions, underscoring its importance. A Brayton-cycle balance of plant (BOP) model in SAM/THM demonstrated stable startup behavior, and xenon-driven reactivity during load following was analyzed. To improve TRISO-compact temperature fidelity, a fast multiscale Heat Source Decomposition (HSD) treatment was implemented. Against heterogeneous benchmarks, HSD reduces underprediction of kernel temperatures and lowers predicted peak powers in reactivity-insertion transients compared to previous homogenized models. KRUSTY warm-critical validation progressed from FY2024 baselines: the 15Ȼ insertion shows excellent agreement in peak power (~2% high) and temperature trends, and the 30Ȼ case was automated via a feedback controller that maintained power near 3 kW for ~150 s with close agreement to data. The successful modeling of the warm critical tests has laid a strong foundation for simulating more complex nuclear system tests in the years ahead. Throughout FY2025, developer feedback was provided (e.g., MOOSE batch mesh generation, distributed pre-split meshes, Griffin sweeper on displaced meshes), several new models were contributed to the Virtual Test Bed, and an OECD-NEA WPRS multiphysics benchmark based on the HPMR was initiated to enable broader cross-comparison and best-practice development with the nuclear community at large.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Long-Lived Charge-Transfer Excitons in a Graphene–PTCDI–TiOPc Trilayer Heterostructure

Excitation transfer across the interfaces between graphene, perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI), and titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) was studied by using transient absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Both photoluminescence quenching and transient absorption measurements confirm the presence of a type-II interface between PTCDI and TiOPc. While the graphene/PTCDI interface is expected to exhibit type-I behavior, transient absorption measurements indicate that only electrons transfer from PTCDI to graphene, with no evidence of hole transfer. Density functional theory calculations reveal significant ground-state electron transfer from graphene to PTCDI, resulting in band bending that prevents excited holes from transferring from PTCDI to graphene. This feature is exploited in a trilayer heterostructure of graphene/PTCDI/TiOPc, where the spatial separation of photoexcited electrons and holes in graphene and TiOPc, respectively, leads to the formation of long-lived photoexcitations with a lifetime of approximately 500 ps. Furthermore, spatially resolved transient absorption measurements reveal the immobile nature of these excitations, confirming that they are charge-transfer excitons rather than free electrons and holes. Furthermore, these results provide valuable insights into the complex interlayer photoexcitation transfer properties and demonstrate precise control over the layer population and the recombination lifetime of photocarriers in such hybrid heterostructures.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Radon Kinetics in a Basement Space Measured with Different Devices

Although indoor monitoring of radon and benchmarking of radon measurement devices remain important research topics, few intercomparisons of active radon measurement devices have been performed under realistic conditions, let alone dynamic ones enabling comparison of their transient behavior. Five different radon monitors were therefore placed in a poorly ventilated basement space under three different conditions: 24 h under a steady, elevated radon level, 24 h with fans turned on to produce a radon washout transient, and 9 d with fans turned off for a radon buildup transient. Resulting radon concentrations varied between ~200 and ~2,000 Bq m -3 . Accuracy of the devices were evaluated using root-mean-square error, and ventilation data were fit to first order linear compartmental models. To more accurately model behaviors such as cyclic diurnal variations, the source term corresponding to entry of radon from soil into the basement was considered to be non-constant, as it is likely to vary drastically with both the indoor-outdoor pressure differential and soil concentration variations. Here, the improved radon washout model fit very well with the measurements. Despite a wide variety in list prices, all devices performed similarly during transients and at different radon concentrations.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Scalable modular dynamic molten salt reactor system model with decay heat

Nodal dynamic models allow rapid reduced-order simulations of complex systems. This paper presents a publicly available system dynamic model of a molten salt reactor system with a topology of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE), in MATLAB/Simulink, building upon a model previously published and validated with MSRE data. It adds scaling of nominal power, dynamic representation of decay heat generation, a generic decay heat removal system, improved documentation, modularity, and test cases. One hour of system transient runs in less than 10 min on a laptop. This model is intended for first order engineering calculations, developing insights into system transient behavior, equipment sizing, parameter sensitivity studies. The model contains an easy to use toolkit which can be customized and expanded to describe any molten salt reactor system. Finally, scenarios involving off-normal transients are presented. Relation between shutdown reactivity insertions, decay heat removal, core recriticality, and safe shutdown conditions are discussed.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Modeling of HTTF test PG-26 using RELAP5-3D and SAM

The High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) at Oregon State University (OSU) is a scaled integral effects experiment designed to investigate transient behavior in high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR) with prismatic fuel and reflector blocks [1]. Several tests have been completed at the HTTF including depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) and pressurized conduction cooldown (PCC) transients. This summary reports on the analysis of test PG-26 using the INL system code REALP5-3D [2] as well as the ANL system code SAM [3]. Test PG-26 is a progression of the Double Ended Inlet-Outlet Crossover Duct Break transient that is referred to as a DCC [4]. Core initial conditions (i.e., before the DCC started) have been met using low power (<100 kW) and two of ten available electric heater banks. The DCC transient was initiated during the 50th hour of the test. The break valves were opened, and hot helium from the core and cold helium from the reactor cavity simulation tank (RCST) started mixing. The gases flowed in a countercurrent fashion, where the top half of the hot duct contained hot helium that flowed in one direction and cold helium that flowed in the other direction in the bottom half of the duct. After the pressure and density reached equilibrium, the event entered a diffusion mode. The onset of a reverse natural circulation was not observed during the DCC period of the test.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

RELAP5-3D Modeling of High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) Test PG-26

The High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) at Oregon State University (OSU) is a scaled integral effects experiment designed to investigate transient behavior in high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors with prismatic fuel and reflector blocks. Several tests have been completed, and more are still planned to at the HTTF, including depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) and pressurized conduction cooldown (PCC) transients. This report analyses test PG-26, a progression of the Double Ended Inlet-Outlet Crossover Duct Break transient that is referred to as a DCC. PG-26 has been performed at the HTTF between May 30 and June 30, 2019. Core initial conditions (i.e., before the DCC started) have been met using low power (<100 kW) and two of ten available electric heaters. The DCC transient was initiated during the 50 th hour of the test. The break valves were opened, and hot helium from the core and cold helium from the reactor cavity simulation tank (RCST) started mixing. The gases flowed in a countercurrent fashion, where the top half of the hot duct contained hot helium that flowed in one direction and cold helium that flowed in the other direction in the bottom half of the duct. After the pressure and density reached equilibrium, the event entered a diffusion mode. The onset of a reverse natural circulation was not observed during the DCC period of the test. Version 4.4.2ie of the RELAP5-3D computer code has been used to model the HTTF PG-26 test, and results have been compared to available high-quality measured data. The model used in this study is the quality-controlled HTTF RELAP5-3D model (HTTF base 2018-04-19 QA), originally developed by P. Bayless. The report includes RELAP5-3D results of the “base calculations” as well as some sensitivities to important uncertain model inputs, such as primary helium mass flow rate, core ceramic thermal properties, as well as heat evacuation and loop friction models. Using the base RELAP5-3D model predicts a countercurrent helium flow in the hot duct observed at the beginning of the DCC, but instead of going into a molecular diffusion mode, the model predicts the onset of natural convection. Increasing friction in the core and hot duct prevents the natural convection from happening in some of the simulations. Although some temperatures are well predicted (and even overpredicted), the general tendency is to underpredict the ceramic and helium temperatures and heat removal rates during the DCC, resulting in many of the assessment findings being in minimal or insufficient agreement with the data. It is worth noting that the described discrepancies between measured data and RELAP5-3D predictions are not RELAP5-3D code limitations. More so, they reflect limitations in boundary condition and thermal property knowledge. While the RELAP5-3D calculations of the test provide some insights into what happens during the transient, and point to missing or potentially uncertain data to which the experimenters can direct their attention, the principal conclusion is that the PG-26 test data are insufficient for a system code assessment.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Transient Testing of Nuclear Fuels Performed in the Original Operation of TREAT (2nd ed.)

This report provides summary information on experiments performed in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) during its original operation from 1959-1994, and more specifically, before the TREAT core was upgraded at the end of the 1980s. The tests performed since about 1970 are summarized in considerable detail. Earlier tests are noted by their designated series and by some parameters that help to identify and distinguish each series from the others. The detailed summary descriptions are intended to help inform future researchers regarding the large, historical, empirical data base generated from that 35-year span during which hundreds of TREAT experiments were performed to investigate and demonstrate the transient behavior of a wide variety of nuclear fuels during severe off-normal and accident conditions -- using direct nuclear heating of the test samples. That empirical basis is foundational and valuable for guiding future qualification and safety evaluation of improved fuel designs and for future transient test planning and performance in TREAT. Since Edition 1 of this report, descriptions of the following test series have been added: D, E, EOS, F, H, J, R, RX, and S.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Transient Testing of Nuclear Fuels Performed in the Original Operation of TREAT, Third Edition

TREAT core was upgraded at the end of the 1980s. The tests performed since about 1970 are summarized in considerable detail. Earlier tests are noted by their designated series and by some parameters that help to identify and distinguish each series from the others. The detailed summary descriptions are intended to help inform future researchers regarding the large, historical, empirical data base generated from that 35-year span during which hundreds of TREAT experiments were performed to investigate and demonstrate the transient behavior of a wide variety of nuclear fuels during severe off-normal and accident conditions -- using direct nuclear heating of the test samples. That empirical basis is foundational and valuable for guiding future qualification and safety evaluation of improved fuel designs and for future transient test planning and performance in TREAT. The second edition of this report added descriptions of the following test series: D, E, EOS, F, H, J, R, RX, and S. This third edition includes descriptions of an additional four test series: the HUT, HOP (& HUC), ORNL-TR, and PNL.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A Eulerian three-fluid flow framework for the study of fuel dispersal behavior under loss-of-coolant accident conditions

As the nuclear industry explores new fuel designs to accommodate increased burnup, studying fuel behavior during loss-of-coolant accidents is essential for ensuring the safe operation of light-water reactors. Here, this study presents a computational model to simulate the intricate three-phase flow dynamics of fuel dispersal following cladding breach, where solid fuel particles and carrier fission gases interact with the surrounding liquid or gas medium. The model utilizes a Eulerian three-fluid framework to depict the phase interaction within interpenetrating continua, treating fragmented fuel as granular material. Closure relationships for bulk-flow properties of the solid phase and detailed interfacial exchange terms in high-temperature, high-speed gas-solid-liquid flow scenarios are proposed. The model was validated using adiabatic experimental results in the literature, focusing on characterizing fuel dispersal behavior during loss-of-coolant accidents conditions. Settlement characteristics of the solids, quantified by the probability distribution of equivalent particles, closely matched probability density functions reported in experimental studies. Key highlights of this study include the theoretical description of a coupled three-phase flow with phase change, interpretation of the high-pressure boundary conditions and insights into the transient behavior of gas-solid-liquid phase dynamics during a simulated high-speed dispersal event.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Numerical and Experimental Investigations on the Ignition Behavior of OME

On the path towards climate-neutral future mobility, the usage of synthetic fuels derived from renewable power sources, so-called e-fuels, will be necessary. Oxygenated e-fuels, which contain oxygen in their chemical structure, not only have the potential to realize a climate-neutral powertrain, but also to burn more cleanly in terms of soot formation. Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (PODE or OMEs) are a frequently discussed representative of such combustibles. However, to operate compression ignition engines with these fuels achieving maximum efficiency and minimum emissions, the physical-chemical behavior of OMEs needs to be understood and quantified. Especially the detailed characterization of physical and chemical properties of the spray is of utmost importance for the optimization of the injection and the mixture formation process. The presented work aimed to develop a comprehensive CFD model to specify the differences between OMEs and dodecane, which served as a reference diesel-like fuel, with regards to spray atomization, mixing and auto-ignition for single- and multi-injection patterns. The simulation results were validated against experimental data from a high-temperature and high-pressure combustion vessel. The sprays’ liquid and vapor phase penetration were measured with Mie-scattering and schlieren-imaging as well as diffuse back illumination and Rayleigh-scattering for both fuels. To characterize the ignition process and the flame propagation, measurements of the OH* chemiluminescence of the flame were carried out. Significant differences in the ignition behavior between OMEs and dodecane could be identified in both experiments and CFD simulations. Liquid penetration as well as flame lift-off length are shown to be consistently longer for OMEs. Zones of high reaction activity differ substantially for the two fuels: Along the spray center axis for OMEs and at the shear boundary layers of fuel and ambient air for dodecane. Additionally, the transient behavior of high temperature reactions for OME is predicted to be much faster.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

NUMERICAL MODELING OF A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL FOR USE IN REAL-TIME SIMULATION AND CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

Cyber-physical systems provide a mechanism with which to investigate the physical phenomena and behavior of traditionally cost-prohibitive or otherwise fragile equipment. For the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), this approach resulted in the Hybrid Performance (Hyper) facility which features a gas turbine-SOFC hybrid cycle utilizing real turbomachinery and a simulated SOFC stack. This allows for the investigation of combined cycle performance and control strategies, in an exhaustive manner, both without fear of destroying delicate state-of-the-art fuel cells, and with the full accuracy of real-world turbomachinery. Issues arose between the transient response of the SOFC model being limited to a sample time of 80 milliseconds, due to the calculation time of the SOFC model taking on average 40 milliseconds to calculate for a given timestep with spikes in calculation time reaching the 80 millisecond threshold. In order to be able to match the speed of transients from the turbomachinery and likewise better discern transient behavior, it was determined that the SOFC model must be optimized to operate at a sample time of 5 milliseconds. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the SOFC model in order to decrease the calculation time from around 40 milliseconds, down to at the most 5 milliseconds. To do this, both the electrochemical algorithm and the thermal algorithm used to simulate the physical behavior of the SOFC are investigated to determine where improvements can be made. To this end the rootfinding numerical recipes of the electrochemical algorithm are investigated as the complex electrochemistry requires a highly iterative nested dual convergence loop to resolve the voltage-current relationship, and likewise the temporal discretization of the thermal algorithm is modified for the sake of higher accuracy and stability. Ultimately the new electrochemical algorithm featuring higher order rootfinding schemes proves to be efficient enough to reach the sub 5 millisecond target, signifying an order of magnitude reduction in calculation time, and when coupled with the new temporal discretization similar calculation time characteristics show that a fully implicit, higher order temporal discretization can also successfully be used if desired. Ultimately this result means that the cyber-physical simulation system can operate at higher sample rates, and resolve transient events at significantly higher resolution and fidelity.

Arias, Jesus↗