Westinghouse has a proven tool to provide solutions to many common emergent and long-term utility concerns. Westinghouse’s CE Nuclear Transient Simulator (CENTS) code is a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensed best-estimate analysis code that can be used in a variety of pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) applications.
The CENTS code originated as the model set for a PWR full-scope simulator. As such, it has been used on numerous full-scope training simulations, and individual models have been used in many other simulators, including those for BWRs. CENTS is based on detailed first-principles models for one- and two-phase fluids. Use of nonequilibrium, nonhomogeneous models allows a full range of fluid conditions to be represented, including forced circulation, natural circulation, coolant voiding and presence of noncondensable gases. The code provides a comprehensive set of interactions among the analyst, the reactor control systems and the reactor.
The CENTS computer code simulates the transient behavior of PWRs and BWRs for all normal, abnormal and accident conditions. It is an interactive, faster-than-real-time code capable of running on multiple computer platforms. Although fully approved by the NRC for licensing basis accident analyses, it retains all the features required for accurate best-estimate plant simulation.
CENTS fully models the nuclear steam supply system and most related PWR and BWR plant systems. It can track radionuclide concentrations and noncondensable gases throughout the plant. The code is robust in accurately modeling all modes of plant operation, including outage conditions at low temperature and atmospheric pressure.
First-generation graphical user interface – nuclear steam supply system view
Feedtrain system
Chemical and volume control system
CENTS can be used to provide the following solution services to utilities, independent of the fuel vendor. CENTS can:
Numerous plant concerns can be solved using one CENTS model. In addition, CENTS provides the following benefits:
Westinghouse has more than 30 years of experience using CENTS for desktop simulations of a number of nuclear power plants and in full-scope simulations and control systems design and optimization. CENTS also has been used to perform advanced design work, including work on the Westinghouse AP1000® new plant design.
AP1000 is a trademark or registered trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, its affiliates and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and may be registered in other countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.