SFWST / SFWD-GDSA Geologic Model Integration

The Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) Campaign of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is tasked with conducting research and development (R&D) related to the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high level nuclear waste (HLW). Two high priority topics for SFWST R&D are to create design concepts and numerical modeling approaches for disposal systems.
A part of the Geologic Disposal Safety Analysis (GDSA) is Geology Integration which includes: 3D Geologic Framework Software, an UZ Reference case for Alluvial Basin (LANL and SNL), and a Shale Reference Case (SNL). The use of VoroCrust is being explored for Voronoi polyhedral meshing to automate and make more efficient part of the model setup workflow as well as increase the accuracy of the flow and transport simulations.

LA-UR-23322:
2019 LANL Contribution to Salt-GDSA Integration Fuel Cycle Research & Development
US Department of Energy Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology Milestone M3SF-19LA010303012
P.H. Stauffer, J.J. Beisman, C.W. Gable, D.R. Harp, T.A. Miller, E.J. Guiltinan LANL, M. Ebeida Sandia

Workflow for Geologic Applications

• Collect and process data for the model area.
• Create a Geologic Framework Model (GFM) to represent the model area (JewelSuite, RockWorks, etc.)
• Create an appropriate computational mesh based on the GFM and data. (LaGriT, Cubit, VoroCrust, etc.)
• Write model mesh and setup files for the modeling application. (LaGriT, pre-process scripts, etc.)
• Run simulations and adjust previous work as necessary. (FEHM, PFLOTRAN, TOUGH, MODFLOW, etc.)

Project 1. GDSA Integration with JewelSuite for Alluvial Basin

Project Page for Alluvial Basin Workflow All Images for Alluvial Basin Workflow GitHub Repository for Workflow Files

This work builds an Alluvial Basin Geologic Framework (GFM) which is used to create a computation mesh used in Modeling simulations. Portions of the workflow use well developed methods using LaGriT for meshing and FEHM for model setup. The JewelSuite GFM is new, and the integration between the steps need development.

Workflow for Alluvial Basin Meshing:

• Create interface between JewelSuite GFM and LaGriT for meshing.
• Create a computational mesh and model setup for Simulations
• FEHM modeling to verify mesh and model setup files
• Convert FEHM model files for Sandia/PFLOTRAN
• SNL runs PFLOTRAN and compares results from same mesh and boundary conditions to FEHM output

Project 2. VoroCrust Meshing for Geologic Models

Project Page for VoroCrust Meshing Unit Cubes VoroCrust Images JewelSuite Tests VoroCrust Images Mortandad Mesa VoroCrust Images Mortandad Mesa Thin Layer VoroCrust Images

This work explores the use of VoroCrust software to create Voronoi mesh files for FEHM/PFLOTRAN type modeling applications. VoroCrust will be used to mesh various geologic models and methods for VoroCrust input and output methods will be explored for integration into the work flow.

SNL is working with VoroCrust to develop Vornonoi mesh files for PFLOTRAN for use in their Shale model task for GDSA Integration.
LANL is working with VoroCrust to develop a meshing workflow for FEHM/FLOTRAN type models in general.

VoroCrust Papers:

VoroCrust Abstract arxiv.org/abs/1902.08767

VoroCrust: Voronoi Meshing Without Clipping PDF

VoroCrust Supplemental Materials PDF

Polyhedral Meshing and Models: