An integrated RELAP5-3D and multiphase CFD code system utilizing a semi-implicit coupling technique

An integrated code system consisting Of RELAP5-3D and a multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program has been created through the use of a generic semi-implicit coupling algorithm. Unlike previous CFD coupling work, this coupling scheme is numerically stable provided the material Courant limit is not violated in RELAP5-3D or at the coupling locations. The basis for the coupling scheme and details regarding the unique features associated with the application of this technique to a four-field CFD program are presented. Finally, the results of a verification problem are presented. The coupled code system is shown to yield accurate and numerically stable results. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.