Speaker
Description
The advancement of digital engineering workflows is critical to accelerating the design, validation, and deployment of next-generation fusion energy systems. In this context, we present the integration of a customized magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) modeling capability into a general-purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework, enabling scalable, high-fidelity simulations of liquid metal (LM) blanket concepts under realistic fusion reactor conditions. Traditional MHD codes often fall short in handling complex 3D geometries and multi-physics environments characteristic of fusion applications. By modifying ANSYS CFX, we extend its capabilities to simulate MHD flows subjected to high Hartmann numbers, MHD turbulence, and variable material conductivities, while coupling with thermal, structural, and electromagnetic loads.
This work demonstrates how digital engineering platforms can unify design, analysis, and validation workflows. The customized CFX solver was validated against experimental and analytical benchmarks for MHD pipe flows across a range of wall conductance ratios and magnetic field strengths. We apply this tool to simulate Kyoto Fusioneering’s silicon carbide composite (SiC_f/SiC) LM blanket concept, incorporating realistic plasma-facing heat loads, neutronic volumetric heating, and spatially varying magnetic fields. The simulation outputs are being used to inform instrumentation placement and experimental design for mock-up testing at the UNITY-1 blanket test facility.
Our approach highlights the potential of digital engineering to integrate advanced physics modeling, experimental validation, and system-level design in a unified environment. The outcome is a faster, more reliable pathway to evaluate fusion blanket technologies and accelerate the transition from concept to testing within the fusion development timeline.
This work is in-part supported by the United States Department of Energy through the INFUSE program.
| Country or International Organisation | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory |
| Speaker's email address | akhodak@pppl.gov |
