About CASL

Goals

The CASL 5-year vision is to develop and embody VERA with predictive capability, by coupling state-of-the-art fuel performance, neutronics, thermal hydraulics (T-H), and structural models with existing system/safety analysis tools.

To achieve this vision, CASL will accomplish the following objectives:

Enable the use of leadership-class computing for engineering design and analysis to achieve reactor power uprates, life extensions, and higher fuel burn-up.	Promote an enhanced scientific basis and understanding by replacing empirically based design and analysis tools with predictive capabilities.
Develop a highly integrated multi-physics M&S environment for engineering analysis through increased fidelity methods [e.g., neutron transport and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) rather than diffusion theory and sub-channel methods].	Incorporate uncertainty quantifications (UQ) as a basis for developing priorities and supporting application of VERA for predictive simulation.
Educate today's reactor engineers in the use of advanced M&S through direct engagement in CASL activities and develop the next generation of engineers through curricula at partner universities.	Engage the nuclear regulator [the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)] to obtain guidance and direction on the use and deployment of VERA to support licensing applications.

Integration of all the CASL milestones will lead to the development of a state-of-the-art pellet-to-pellet virtual reactor simulation environment, with high-resolution representation of a physical reactor on the computational platforms of today and the future, creating distinct technological innovation and paving the way for a nuclear power industrial revolution.