Implementation of Parallel Process Execution in the Next Generation System Analysis Model

TL;DR

This paper discusses the implementation of parallel process execution within the Next Generation System Analysis Model, enhancing simulation efficiency for nuclear waste management systems.

Contribution

It introduces a parallel processing framework for NGSAM, improving simulation speed and scalability for complex nuclear waste management scenarios.

Findings

Enhanced simulation performance with parallel processing

Improved scalability for large-scale system analysis

Facilitated more detailed and faster system modeling

Abstract

The United States DOE Office of Integrated Waste Management program is planning for the transportation, storage, and eventual disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plant sites across the United States. The Next Generation System Analysis Model is an agent-based simulation toolkit that is used for system level simulation and analysis of the SNF inventory in the United States. This tool was developed as part of a collaborative effort between Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The analyst using NGSAM has the ability to define several factors like the number of storage facilities, capacity at each facility, transportation schedules, shipment rates, and other conditions. The primary purpose of NGSAM is to provide the system analyst with the tools to model the integrated waste management system and gain insights on waste management alternatives, impact of storage choices, generating cost estimates, and developing an integrated approach with emphasis on flexibility.