TY - GEN
T1 - Multiphysics Modeling of SNAP 10A/2 Space Reactor with Cardinal
AU - Dalinger, Maximiliano
AU - Merzari, Elia
AU - Nguyen, Tri
AU - Seneca, Michael
AU - Martineau, Richard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 NETS. All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - The SNAP 10/A nuclear-powered satellite was launched into space in 1965. The present work discusses the development of a coupled neutronic-thermal hydraulics model with the high-fidelity multiphysics code Cardinal for SNAP 10/A. A comparison of neutronic benchmarks between OpenMC and MCNP5 shows a difference of 304±70 pcm. The primary source of difference is that MCNP5 uses a combination of cross-section libraries ENDF/B-VI and ENDF/B-V for minor isotopes. At the same time, the present work utilizes ENDF/B-VIII.0. A comparison against experimental results showed a difference of 355 pcm. A coupled model of the SNAP 10/A reactor is then developed in Cardinal. Temperature results show reasonable agreement with reference calculations.
AB - The SNAP 10/A nuclear-powered satellite was launched into space in 1965. The present work discusses the development of a coupled neutronic-thermal hydraulics model with the high-fidelity multiphysics code Cardinal for SNAP 10/A. A comparison of neutronic benchmarks between OpenMC and MCNP5 shows a difference of 304±70 pcm. The primary source of difference is that MCNP5 uses a combination of cross-section libraries ENDF/B-VI and ENDF/B-V for minor isotopes. At the same time, the present work utilizes ENDF/B-VIII.0. A comparison against experimental results showed a difference of 355 pcm. A coupled model of the SNAP 10/A reactor is then developed in Cardinal. Temperature results show reasonable agreement with reference calculations.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010256933
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=105010256933&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.13182/NETS25-47453
DO - 10.13182/NETS25-47453
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:105010256933
T3 - Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2025
SP - 115
EP - 122
BT - Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2025
PB - American Nuclear Society
T2 - 2025 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2025
Y2 - 4 May 2025 through 8 May 2025
ER -
