Physics-informed tritium fuel cycle modelling workflow for fusion reactors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multi-fidelity, physics-informed simulation framework for tritium fuel cycle modeling in fusion reactors, integrating models of varying complexity within an open-source platform.

Contribution

It presents a unified, open-source workflow combining zero-dimensional, intermediate, and high-fidelity models for comprehensive fuel cycle analysis.

Findings

Validated intermediate-fidelity model against literature

Coupled multi-dimensional models with system-level simulation

Enabled integration of complex transport phenomena in fuel cycle analysis

Abstract

In this work, we present a multi-fidelity, physics-informed framework for tritium fuel cycle modelling based on the open-source PathSim/PathView platform. Three complementary modelling approaches are demonstrated within a unified dynamic simulation environment. First, a zero-dimensional residence time model is used to reproduce the fuel cycle behaviour of an ARC-class fusion power plant, providing a baseline system-level description. Second, an intermediate-fidelity component model based on coupled one-dimensional ordinary differential equations is developed to describe tritium mass transfer in a liquid metal bubble column reactor and validated against published literature before integration into the full fuel cycle. Finally, high-fidelity multi-dimensional tritium transport models implemented using the finite element code FESTIM are coupled directly to the system model, enabling the inclusion of multi-dimensional effects, material interfaces, and complex transport phenomena. This work demonstrates how fuel cycle components of varying physical fidelity can be combined consistently within a single, open-source framework. The proposed approach enables more physically grounded fuel cycle analyses while retaining the flexibility required for system-level studies and provides a foundation for future integration with neutronics, fluid dynamics, and surrogate modelling tools.