Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) -- The Energy Hub

The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) brings together an exceptionally capable team that will apply existing modeling and simulation (M&S) capabilities and develop advanced capabilities to create a usable environment for predictive simulation of light water reactors (LWRs). The virtual reactor (VR) simulation capability, known as the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA), will incorporate science-based models, state-of-the-art numerical methods, modern computational science and engineering practices, and uncertainty quantification (UQ) and validation against data from operating pressurized water reactors (PWRs). It will couple state-of-the-art fuel performance, neutronics, thermal-hydraulics (T-H), and structural models with existing tools for systems and safety analysis and will be designed for implementation on both today's leadership-class computers and the advanced architecture platforms now under development by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

CASL connects fundamental research and technology development through an integrated partnership of government, academia, and industry that extends across the nuclear energy enterprise. The CASL partner institutions possess the interdisciplinary expertise necessary to apply existing M&S capabilities to real-world reactor design issues and to develop new system-focused capabilities that will provide the foundation for advances in nuclear energy technology. CASL's organization and management plan have been designed to promote collaboration and synergy among the partner institutions, taking advantage of the breadth and depth of their expertise and capitalizing on their shared focus on delivering solutions.

CASL is implementing an organization management strategy distinguished by collaboration, central leadership, and multi-disciplinary teams executing a single milestone-driven plan and integrated co-dependent projects. Major features include:

(*) Central integrated management Senior Leadership Team working from a single location at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL).
-- Director with full line authority and accountability for all aspects of CASL
-- Chief scientist to drive science-based elements
-- Deputy director to drive application elements
-- Chief Strategy Officer to drive advanced and future applications, regulatory elements, and strategic scope extensions

(*) Technical Focus Area leads and deputies with responsibility for the core elements and integration.
(*) Strong science, engineering, applications, and design leadership.
(*) A commitment to a virtual one-roof approach and widespread implementation of state-of-the-art collaboration technology.
(*) Well-informed and timely decision-making and program integration.
(*) Independent oversight and review via an external board of directors and two advisory councils, each designed to provide the best possible independent, scientific, program management, and industrial advice. The board advises on annual performance goals, projects, and strategic plans.
(*) A robust technology transfer and partnerships office to ensure efficient, widespread industrial engagement and coordinated management of intellectual property, ensuring that CASL discoveries and the virtual reactor will be translated to commercial applications.

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.