Candu nuclear reactor: Civil and mechanical engineering analysis

CANDU 6 is a Canadian technology 700 MWe class nuclear power reactor. CANDU 6 reactors are performing well on four continents with over 150 reactor-years of excellent and safe operation. Candu Energy is a Canadian-based company that is enhancing this reactor design based on the experience and feedback that was gained in the development, design, construction, commissioning and operational support of the 11 CANDU 6 unit fleet operating in five countries.

While retaining the basic features of the CANDU 6 design, the Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) reactor incorporates innovative features and state-of-the-art technologies that enhance safety, operation and

performance. The containment structure (which is essential to the protection of the public and workers in a severe accident) requires design for safety, serviceability and durability during the service life of the structure.

By partnering with universities across Canada, Candu Energy is seeking to advance the state of analytical work for the Enhance CANDU 6 (EC6) program. Through sponsorship at the graduate student level, Candu Energy will enhance our global competitiveness through advancements in the the reactor Containment Structure, specifically by developing

innovative computer software for seismic analysis of structures under multiple support excitations, while solving the tangible problem of response drift,
novel design methodologies for the purposes of design comparison of EC6 containment structure with respect to CSA N287.3, ASME and Euro Nuclear Code.

In addition, this project will use computational fluid dynamics methods to advance the understanding of fundamental thermalhydraulic modeling capability for application in nuclear safety analysis. This will include assessing the capability of ASSERT-PV to accurately model the effects of fuel bundle end plates and determine how the sub-channel modelling of fluid mixing can be improved. In doing so, Candu will advance the understanding of a fundamental concern in support of both the existing Candu 6 and EC6 product lines.

Faculty Supervisor:

Drs. Wei-Chau Xie, Reza Kianoush, M. Lightstone & J.Tullis

Student:

De-yi Zhang, Wei Jiang, Bo Li, Ima Tavakkoliavval & TBD

Partner:

Candu Energy Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Energy

University:

University of Waterloo