Research on Characteristics Simulation Method in Blanket Pebble Beds Based on Percolation Theory

The solid tritium breeder blanket is one of the most promising candidates for fusion reactor blankets. However, the simulation of processes such as pebble bed filling and purging is computationally intensive due to the millions of pebbles contained within a single blanket module. Given the structural and physical similarities between pebble beds and porous media, this study develops a simulation program based on percolation theory to characterize the filling and purging behaviors of blanket pebble beds. A percolation network model was constructed through computer programming to simulate fluid flow within the pebble bed, enabling the calculation of pressure drop and velocity distribution under various operating conditions. The simulation results were compared with experimental data, showing excellent agreement and validating the accuracy and reliability of the percolation network model. The results demonstrate that the model based on percolation theory significantly improves computational efficiency while maintaining high accuracy, thereby reducing computational resource requirements. This approach provides a robust theoretical framework and technical support for the rapid modeling and efficient simulation of blanket pebble beds.