Supercomputer speeds nuclear research

The Denovo code, used to model the behavior of neutrons in a nuclear power reactor, will help engineers design nuclear power plants with improved performance and safety. America’s aging nuclear power plants provide about a fifth of the country’s electricity, and Denovo will help engineers extend their operating lives while ensuring safety. The Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will allow Denovo to simulate a fuel rod through one round of use in a reactor core in 13 hours; this job took 60 hours on Titan’s predecessor, the Jaguar supercomputer.