Current CNERG Projects
Radiation Transport and Nuclear Analysis Methods
Unstructured Adaptive Mesh Algorithms for Monte Carlo Transport
Lead PI: Prof. April Novak (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Nuclear Energy University Program, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2024-08-01 to 2027-09-30
Lead PI: Prof. April Novak (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Nuclear Energy University Program, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2024-08-01 to 2027-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Dr. Patrick Shriwise (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Dr. Paul Romano (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Kevin Sawatzky (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Recent growth in computing now permits large-scale multiphysics modeling using Monte Carlo methods, considered state-of-the-art for particle transport. The Monte Carlo method is well-suited for benchmarking lower-fidelity tools, guiding multigroup cross section library development, and aspects of reactor design. However, Monte Carlo methods remain expensive, especially in multiphysics workflows where simulations are performed iteratively. Significant expertise is also needed to pre-divide phase space for scoring tallies, taking into account competing effects including spatial detail, runtime, memory usage, and propagation of truncation/statistical errors to coupled physics solvers. Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is a technique which adaptively refines (or coarsens) a mesh to preferentially add Degrees of Freedom (DOFs) where the error is highest, and remove DOFs where the solution is already well-captured. Despite the remarkable success of AMR in other fields, there has been very limited use of AMR for Monte Carlo tally meshes, especially in the context of multiphysics or in combination with hand p-refinement. This proposal will develop the fundamental methods and techniques for unstructured mesh AMR with Monte Carlo tallies to enable a transformative leap forward in speed, accuracy, and robustness of Monte Carlo methods for advanced simulation.
HiFiStell
Lead PI: Prof. Amitava Battacharjee (Princeton University)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Fusion Energy Sciences SciDAC program, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2023-10-01 to 2027-09-30
Lead PI: Prof. Amitava Battacharjee (Princeton University)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Fusion Energy Sciences SciDAC program, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2023-10-01 to 2027-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Prof. Emeritus Carl Sovinec (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- Connor Moreno, Aaron Bader, Paul Wilson, "ParaStell: parametric modeling and neutronics support for stellarator fusion power plants", (2024-04-04)
Rapid Assessment of Fusion Material Activation
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Just Fusion funded by WARF
Period of performance: 2024-01-01 to 2027-05-01
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Just Fusion funded by WARF
Period of performance: 2024-01-01 to 2027-05-01
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
Nuclear Systems Analysis
High-fidelity Power Distribution and Burnup for Load-Following Microreactor
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Unfunded project; students may be supported by various sources
Period of performance: 2021-09-01 to 2026-12-31
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Unfunded project; students may be supported by various sources
Period of performance: 2021-09-01 to 2026-12-31
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
Foundational Research to Support Fusion Systems Safety Assessment
Lead PI: Dr. Pierre-Clément "P.C." Simon (Idaho National Laboratory)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Fusion Energy Sciences Program
Period of performance: 2025-05-01 to 2028-09-30
Lead PI: Dr. Pierre-Clément "P.C." Simon (Idaho National Laboratory)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Fusion Energy Sciences Program
Period of performance: 2025-05-01 to 2028-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
Neutron Activation Research For Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic Steels
Lead PI: Dr. Nick Woolstenhulme (Idaho National Laboratory)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Idaho National Laboratory Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Period of performance: 2025-05-01 to 2027-09-30
Lead PI: Dr. Nick Woolstenhulme (Idaho National Laboratory)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Idaho National Laboratory Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Period of performance: 2025-05-01 to 2027-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Prof. Charlie Hirst (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Analysis
Illuminating Emerging Supply Chain and Waste Management Challenges
Lead PI: Prof. Madicken Munk (Oregon State University)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Nuclear Energy University Program, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2023-10-01 to 2026-09-30
Lead PI: Prof. Madicken Munk (Oregon State University)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Nuclear Energy University Program, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
Period of performance: 2023-10-01 to 2026-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Jin Wan Bae (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- Dr. Eva Davidson (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation
Consortium for Enabling Technology and Innovation (ETI)
Lead PI: Prof. Anna Erickson (Georgia Institute of Technology)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Office of Nuclear Non-proliferation R&D, National Nuclear Security Administration
Period of performance: 2019-10-01 to 2025-09-30
Lead PI: Prof. Anna Erickson (Georgia Institute of Technology)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Office of Nuclear Non-proliferation R&D, National Nuclear Security Administration
Period of performance: 2019-10-01 to 2025-09-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Jordan R. Stomps, Paul P. H. Wilson, Kenneth J. Dayman, "Contrastive Machine Learning with Gamma Spectroscopy Data Augmentations for Detecting Shielded Radiological Material Transfers", (2024/1)
Consortium for Enabling Technology and Innovation 2.0 (ETI 2.0)
Lead PI: Prof. Anna Erickson (Georgia Institute of Technology)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Office of Nuclear Non-proliferation R&D, National Nuclear Security Administration
Period of performance: 2025-03-15 to 2030-03-14
Lead PI: Prof. Anna Erickson (Georgia Institute of Technology)
CNERG PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Office of Nuclear Non-proliferation R&D, National Nuclear Security Administration
Period of performance: 2025-03-15 to 2030-03-14
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
- Prof. Ben Lindley (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- Jordan R. Stomps, Paul P. H. Wilson, Kenneth J. Dayman, "Contrastive Machine Learning with Gamma Spectroscopy Data Augmentations for Detecting Shielded Radiological Material Transfers", (2024/1)
Techno-economics and Energy Transitions
Agent-based Capacity Expansion
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Unfunded project; students may be supported by various sources
Period of performance: 2020-09-01 to 2025-06-30
Lead PI: Dr. Paul P.H. Wilson
Funding source: Unfunded project; students may be supported by various sources
Period of performance: 2020-09-01 to 2025-06-30
Other CNERG Collaborators:
Other Collaborators:
† Denotes alumni of the CNERG group
