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ATHENA
An Advanced Thermal Energy Network Analysis Code
The Advanced Thermal Energy Network Analysis (ATHENA) computer code has been developed at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy .The foundation of the code is RELAP5-3D, which was intended for use in modeling light water cooled nuclear power reactors. The addition of new working fluids, new heat transfer models, a magneto hydrodynamic model, and a user-defined gravitational constant expanded the capability of the code to model many more thermal-hydraulic systems. Specifically, the code has been used for the design and/or analysis of the Tokamak fusion reactor, the SP-l00 space reactor, municipal steam supply systems, cryogenic storage and supply systems, and geologic nuclear waste repositories. In addition to light and heavy water, the following coolants may be specified as a working fluid:
| Ammonia | Lithium |
| Carbon Dioxide | Lithium-Lead |
| Glycerin | NaK |
| Helium | Nitrogen |
| Hydrogen | Potassium |
| Lead-Bismuth | Sodium |
In addition to these working fluids, analysts can specify one or more noncondensable gases (argon, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, Xenon, Krypton, air, or sf6) as part of the coolant stream.
SP-100 Space Reactor Concept ATHENA Model
For two-phase flow, ATHENA utilizes a non-homogeneous and non-equilibrium model for the coolant that is solved by a fast, partially implicit numerical scheme to permit economical calculation of system transients. The code includes many generic component models from which general systems can be simulated. The component models include pumps, valves, pipes, heat releasing or absorbing structures, reactor kinetics, electric heaters, jet pumps, turbines, separators, accumulators, and control system components. In addition, special process models are included for effects such as form loss, flow at an abrupt area change, branching, choked flow, and solute tracking.
The system mathematical models are coupled into an efficient code structure. The code includes extensive input checking capability to help the user discover input errors and inconsistencies. Also included are free-format input, restart, renodalization, variable output edit features, and a graphical user interface. These user conveniences were developed in recognition that generally the major cost associated with the use of a system transient code is in the engineering labor and time involved in accumulating system data and developing system models.
For more information on ATHENA, contact:
Gary Johnsen
RELAP5-3D/ATHENA Program Manager
Idaho National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1625
Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3890
gwj@inel.gov
208-526-9854
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Last modified: December 2, 2004, 2004.