Modeling and Validation of IAEA 3D PWR Benchmark Problem Using COMSOL Multiphysics Code

Accurate modeling and simulation of the different nuclear reactor phenomena require the integration of Multiphysics such as neutronics, reactor power, thermal hydraulics, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) [2]. COMSOL Multiphysics provides an advanced tool to integrate these Multiphysics in the reactor's steady and transient state. The 3D light water reactor (LWR), also known as the 3D IAEA benchmark problem, was defined by B. Micheelsen in 1971. The primary goal of the 3D IAEA light water reactor benchmark problem is to validate nuclear computer codes by calculating the multiplication factor, neutron flux, and radial/axial power distributions using the two-group neutron diffusion method. A three-dimensional model has been developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to solve two-group neutron diffusion equations for the 3D IAEA PWR benchmark problem. An adaptive mesh refinement option has been used to increase the accuracy of the solution.