STAR-CD/CATHARE coupling methodology for thermal-hydraulic calculations on primary loop and heat exchangers in sodium-cooled fast reactor

Over the last two years, a coupling methodology between CATHARE and STAR-CD has been developed: • Thermal-hydraulic coupling through Inlet / Pressure boundaries; • Thermal coupling through Wall boundaries; • Implemented for sodium fast reactor calculations. The methodology is functional: • Validation on analytical case; • Implementation on FBR geometry and steam generator case; • Possibility of calculations with significant space and time scales (reactor scale, up to 6h) within an acceptable range of CPU time (~a few days) for industrial purposes (engineering studies support). Further validation required: → Benchmark with other CFD simulations; → Comparison with experimental data : natural convection end-of-life Phenix tests (in progress)