Bond Graph Based Coupled Reactor Simulations

Abstract

The bond graph formalism was first introduced to solve the multiphysics problem in electromechanical systems. Over the years, it has been used in many fields including nuclear engineering, but with limited scope due to its perceived impracticality in large systems. This paper introduces this not so well known formalism and presents results from an automated bond graph processing code that simplifies the solution of multiphysics problems. The bond graph of a fully coupled 1D heat transfer and neutron diffusion reactor is derived and the transient solution obtained from the proof-of-concept code is verified using a manufactured solution.