Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors
Stored: Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors
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Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub established to create a "Virtual Reactor" software suite, enabling detailed simulations of nuclear reactor behavior to enhance safety, efficiency, and longevity of the U.S. light water reactor fleet. Launched in 2010 and concluding in 2020, CASL, led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, delivered the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA), validated with real-world data, impacting industry practices and paving the way for advanced reactor designs.
Mission
CASL’s mission was to provide industry and regulators with high-fidelity computational tools to predict reactor performance, focusing on challenge problems like fuel crud, pellet-cladding interaction, and grid-to-rod fretting, ultimately reducing operational costs and improving safety margins. By integrating neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and structural models into VERA, it sought to transition nuclear engineering from empirical to physics-based simulation, supporting DOE’s goals for sustainable nuclear power.
Parent organization
CASL was managed under the Department of Energy, through the Office of Nuclear Energy, which funded and directed its efforts to advance nuclear modeling. The Department of Energy served as the top organization, aligning CASL with national energy security and innovation priorities.
Legislation
CASL was not created by specific legislation but was established in July 2010 under DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs initiative, with funding authorized through Congressional appropriations starting with $25 million annually.
Partners
CASL’s core partners included:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (lead)
- Idaho National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Universities (e.g., MIT, University of Michigan) and industry (e.g., Westinghouse, EPRI)
Number of employees
CASL did not have a fixed employee count; it drew from hundreds of researchers across its partner labs, universities, and industry, with over 200 contributors at its peak.
Organization structure
CASL was organized around focus areas:
- Virtual Reactor Team developed VERA.
- Fuel Performance Team addressed fuel-related issues.
- Industry Liaison Team facilitated technology transfer.
Leader
CASL was led by a Director, Jess Gehin, who directed its scientific and operational efforts from ORNL.
Divisions
The efforts included:
- Physics Integration for VERA’s core models.
- Validation and Verification using real reactor data.
- Technology Deployment to industry users.
List of programs
Key CASL initiatives included:
- Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA)
- Challenge Problem Solutions (e.g., Crud Modeling)
- VERA User Group Training - https://www.casl.gov/vera-users
Last total enacted budget
CASL’s total budget was approximately $252 million over 10 years (2010-2020), with $122 million in initial DOE funding over five years, renewed in 2015 with an additional $130 million.
Staff
Staffing comprised over 200 scientists, engineers, and support personnel from partner institutions, with no standalone CASL headcount; key efforts were based at ORNL.
Funding
CASL’s funding of $252 million came from DOE appropriations ($25M annually initially, adjusted over time), concluding in 2020, with industry cost-sharing enhancing its impact.
Services provided
CASL delivered VERA for reactor simulations, validated models with operating plant data, and provided training and licensing to industry, improving nuclear plant operations and design.
Regulations overseen
CASL did not oversee regulations but supported NRC and industry compliance by enhancing reactor safety and performance models.
Headquarters address
1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA (ORNL campus)
History
CASL was announced on May 28, 2010, as DOE’s first Energy Innovation Hub, led by ORNL, to tackle nuclear reactor modeling challenges. It developed VERA over a decade, licensed it to industry in 2020 (e.g., to EPRI), and concluded its mission, transitioning tools to the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program.
External links
- Official Website
- wikipedia:Consortium_for_Advanced_Simulation_of_Light_Water_Reactors
- DOE CASL Page
- ORNL CASL Overview