Case Study: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories achieves deeper insight into nuclear fuel behavior with COMSOL multiphysics simulation

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories reduces fuel modeling complexity with Comsol’s 2D grain-boundary simulation

At Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), engineers faced the challenge of innovating nuclear reactor fuel design using cumbersome legacy in-house codes. These codes were a barrier to efficient modeling of complex, evolving material behavior under radiation. To overcome this, CNL turned to multiphysics simulation software from Comsol.

Using Comsol Multiphysics software, CNL scientist Andrew Prudil developed the Fuel and Sheath Modeling Tool (FAST). This solution efficiently couples heat transport, structural mechanics, and material behavior to model fuel performance, including cladding strain and fission gas bubble formation. The Comsol platform enabled faster design iteration, provided key safety insights like internal pressure predictions, and cleared the way for innovation in areas like accident-tolerant fuel and small modular reactors.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories