ON ASSURING QUALITY IN THERMALHYDRAULIC SYSTEM SIMULATION.

A simple philosophical basis for quality assurance is given and supported by example. An overview of the main characteristics of the CANDU nuclear reactor heat transport system generates the main parameters as targets for verification. Primarily through plant commissioning, the simulation code is locked-on to actual plant performance in the key areas of heat transport system flow and steam generator heat transfer performance. Subsequent model extrapolation into high power, oscillatory two-phase flow was confirmed by plant experience. This lends credibility to the simulation model and supports the philosophy of the approach to QA advanced in the paper.