Coffee & Viz - High Fidelity Simulations of Nuclear Reactor Flows

Nuclear reactors present a challenge for researchers interested in exploring turbulent conditions in liquids using direct, experimental approaches. As a result, researchers are increasingly using high performance computing (HPC) to develop simulations of complex turbulent flows in real-world environments. This talk will explain how HPC can enable researchers to run high fidelity “virtual experiments” of fully resolved turbulent flows within a nuclear reactor. It will also provide an overview of some data analysis techniques researchers can apply to these simulations to develop understandings of the bubble-turbulence interactions that occur within reactors. At the conclusion of the talk, there will be an opportunity for attendees to use the projection capabilities of the Teaching and Visualization Lab to view several turbulent flow simulations in 3D. This talk is presented by Dr. Igor Bolotnov, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at NC State, whose research interests include high resolution simulations of turbulent and bubbly flows, nuclear reactor flows and novel two-phase flow model development approaches.