From “Turbine to Pellet” Integral LWR Safety Analyses

LWR stars.jpg
STARS aims at nuclear reactor modelling and simulations with focus on
  • Safety assessments for the current generation (GII) of Light-Water-Reactors (LWRs) in general and for the Swiss operating LWRs in particular
  • Safety evaluations for next-generation LWRs (GIII/GIII+)
  • The keywords of STARS are LWR nuclear engineering, science and technology.
Technical Areas-notrans.png
STARS is constituted by the three LWR modelling-related research groups of the LRS and the main technical areas of expertise are therefore
  • Plant Behaviour
    (system thermal-hydraulics and fluid dynamics)
  • Core Physics
    (neutronics/radiation transport, reactor physics, and coupled core statics/dynamics)
  • Fuel Modelling
    (fuel thermo-mechanics and material behaviour)
The principle of STARS is to combine these competences and build an advanced
"Turbine-to-Pellet" modeling capability for integral safety assessments of nuclear reactors.

Range Applications.png
The STARS modelling and simulation activities are currently aimed at covering the following range of applications
  • Steady-State Normal Reactor Operation
  • Transients and Dynamical Events
  • Design-Basis-Accidents
  • Beyond-Design-Basis-Accidents
    (excluding core melt and severe accidents)
  • Out-of-Core Applications
    (Fluence, Activation, Shielding, Spent Fuel Characterization, Criticality Safety w/o Burnup Credit)
The concept of STARS is to cover all areas where "neutrons, fluid and materials meet", both within and outside of the reactor vessel.

General Contact

Research Division
Nuclear Energy and Safety (NES)

Laboratory for Reactor Physics and Thermal-Hydraulics (LRT)
Paul Scherrer Institute
5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland

Hakim Ferroukhi
Head of the Laboratory
Office: OHSA/C10
Telephone: +41 56 310 4062
E-mail: hakim.ferroukhi@psi.ch

Petra Kull
Administration and Assistance
Office: OHSA/C18
Telephone: + 41 56 310 2685
E-mail: petra.kull@psi.ch

NES Open positions

Current job openings in the Research Division for Nuclear Energy and Safety