A multi-physics modelling approach for the analysis of Lead Fast Reactors

Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) is considered as one of the most promising future nuclear power plants in the context of the Generation IV International Forum, thanks to its great potential for plant simplification and high operating efficiency. For this type of nuclear systems, the development of multi-physics models is a key aspect of the assessment because it allows the evaluation of the operational constraints, as those related to temperature fields of fuel and coolant. In this paper, we develop a multi-physics modelling approach for LFRs that couples neutronics and thermal-hydraulics, and concurrently calculates the heat transfer between the fuel and the coolant. We implement the approach to a sub-assembly design of the Advanced Lead cooled Fast Reactor European Demonstrator (ALFRED), simulating reactor parameters for design and safety assessment.