Fundamental concepts in the Cyclus nuclear fuel cycle simulation framework

TL;DR

The paper introduces Cyclus, an open-source, flexible nuclear fuel cycle simulation framework designed to improve modeling fidelity, transparency, and efficiency in nuclear fuel cycle analysis.

Contribution

It presents the design and implementation of Cyclus, addressing limitations of existing tools by incorporating modern simulation and software architecture principles.

Findings

Cyclus supports both open and closed fuel cycle simulations.

The framework enhances modeling fidelity and transparency.

Demonstrated capabilities show improved analysis flexibility.

Abstract

As nuclear power expands, technical, economic, political, and environmental analyses of nuclear fuel cycles by simulators increase in importance. To date, however, current tools are often fleet-based rather than discrete and restrictively licensed rather than open source. Each of these choices presents a challenge to modeling fidelity, generality, efficiency, robustness, and scientific transparency. The Cyclus nuclear fuel cycle simulator framework and its modeling ecosystem incorporate modern insights from simulation science and software architecture to solve these problems so that challenges in nuclear fuel cycle analysis can be better addressed. A summary of the Cyclus fuel cycle simulator framework and its modeling ecosystem are presented. Additionally, the implementation of each is discussed in the context of motivating challenges in nuclear fuel cycle simulation. Finally, the current capabilities of Cyclus are demonstrated for both open and closed fuel cycles.