Project Details
About Fermi
Nuclear fusion is a safe and clean electricity source that can potentially bring great advances to our decarbonization efforts. With the increasing interest in commercial nuclear fusion reactor designs, the FERMI framework provides a virtual environment for fusion reactor designers to simulate their designs with ease.
Fusion Energy Reactor Models Integrator (FERMI) is a project started in 2021 and funded by ARPA-E GAMOW to develop high-fidelity and scalable Multiphysics simulation framework that includes plasma physics, neutronics, computational fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
The FERMI framework is a set of codes that cover an array of physics involved in a fusion reactor operation, coupled using the preCICE coupling library. The data transfers, input generation, documentation and visualization tools are written in Python, and are developed in a modular fashion for ease of use.
Framework
The framework follows a modular approach, in which each physics solve can be done independently, but also can be coupled depending on the user’s desired fidelity. Each physics solve leverage state-of-the-art tools that have been used in the field for years.
The user experience of the tools are enhanced by convenient Python APIs that makes it easy for users to standardize and automated their workflows, allowing for a more streamlined, reproducible analysis process.
Neutronics (Neutron & Gamma transport)
- OpenMC: Community-developed open source monte carlo particle transport code
- Monte Carlo N-Particle Code: General purpose monte carlo particle transport code
- Shift: Massively-parallel monte carlo radiation transport code
- Denovo: Discrete Ordinates radiation transport code
Geometry modeling
- Cubit: full-featured toolkit for robust generation of finite element meshes and geometry preparation
- Paraview: World’s leading open source post-processing visualization engine
- TRACER: generic parametric geometry generation tool for Tokamaks using Cubit Python API
Computational Fluid Dynamics
- OpenFOAM: Highly customizable open-source CFD software widely used for a broad range of engineering applications
- Models: Thermophysical, turbulence closure, heat transfer, MHD turbulence, multi-physics interface (developed by FERMI team)
Coupling
- preCICE: An open-source coupling library for partitioned multi-physics simulations
- Modules: OpenFOAM adapter, conjugate heat transfer, fluid-structure interaction, DIABLO adapter, conjugate electromagnetics (developed by FERMI team)
Structural Mechanics
- Diablo: A Parallel, Implicit, Multi-physics Finite Element Code for Engineering Analysis
Impact
FERMI aims to be a streamlined, user-friendly design tool for fusion reactors, allowing quick iteration of design analysis, which will accelerate fusion reactor design optimization. By providing a multiphyiscs coupled environment, the users can quickly assess the impact of their design.
This will empower fusion reactor companies to have an agile design workflow, and improve their reactor performance for various metrics, such as tritium breeding ratio, optimized material activation, lower maximum temperature, and longer structural lifetime.
