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Bruno Merk

Professor Bruno Merk
Dr-Ing.

NNL/RAEng Research Chair in Computational Modelling for Nuclear Engineering
Physics

Publications

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2024

From Fishing Village to Atomic Town and present: A grounded theory study

DOI
10.31219/osf.io/pb6uz
Preprint

NAUTILUS: A Project for the Development of Experimental Methods for Investigating Innovative Approaches to Nuclear Waste Management and to Nuclear Safety

Viebach, M., Knospe, A., Lange, C., Merk, B., & Hurtado, A. (2024). NAUTILUS: A Project for the Development of Experimental Methods for Investigating Innovative Approaches to Nuclear Waste Management and to Nuclear Safety. In International Conference on Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR 2024) (pp. 316-325). American Nuclear Society. doi:10.13182/physor24-43699

DOI
10.13182/physor24-43699
Conference Paper

2023

2022

Defining the Challenges-Identifying the Key Poisoning Elements to Be Separated in a Future Integrated Molten Salt Fast Reactor Clean-Up System for iMAGINE

Merk, B., Detkina, A., Litskevich, D., Drury, M., Noori-kalkhoran, O., Cartland-Glover, G., . . . Mount, A. R. (2022). Defining the Challenges-Identifying the Key Poisoning Elements to Be Separated in a Future Integrated Molten Salt Fast Reactor Clean-Up System for iMAGINE. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL, 12(9). doi:10.3390/app12094124

DOI
10.3390/app12094124
Journal article

Defining the Challenges - Identifying the Key Poisoning Elements to be Separated in a Future Integrated Molten Salt Fast Reactor Clean-up System for iMAGINE

Merk, B., Detkina, A., Litskevich, D., Drury, M., Noorikalkhoran, O., Cartland-Glover, G., . . . Mount, A. (2022). Defining the Challenges - Identifying the Key Poisoning Elements to be Separated in a Future Integrated Molten Salt Fast Reactor Clean-up System for iMAGINE. doi:10.20944/preprints202202.0148.v1

DOI
10.20944/preprints202202.0148.v1
Journal article

Verification of the LOTUS Code with C5G7 Benchmark

Litskevich, D., Davies, S., Detkina, A., & Merk, B. (2022). Verification of the LOTUS Code with C5G7 Benchmark. In International Conference on Physics of Reactors 2022 (PHYSOR 2022) (pp. 1784-1791). American Nuclear Society. doi:10.13182/physor22-37729

DOI
10.13182/physor22-37729
Conference Paper

Zero Power Experiment for Molten Salt Reactor -- Code Verification and Validation Request

Detkina, A., Litskevich, D., Drury, M., & Merk, B. (2022). Zero Power Experiment for Molten Salt Reactor -- Code Verification and Validation Request. In International Conference on Physics of Reactors 2022 (PHYSOR 2022) (pp. 998-1006). American Nuclear Society. doi:10.13182/physor22-37633

DOI
10.13182/physor22-37633
Conference Paper

2021

Part 3: Evaluating a small modular high temperature reactor design during control rod withdrawal and a depressurised loss of coolant accidents

Atkinson, S., Aoki, T., Litskevich, D., Merk, B., & Xing, Y. (2021). Part 3: Evaluating a small modular high temperature reactor design during control rod withdrawal and a depressurised loss of coolant accidents. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 134. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103689

DOI
10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103689
Journal article

2020

The Potential of Pressurised Water Reactors to Provide Flexible Response in Future Electricity Grids

Peakman, A., Merk, B., & Hesketh, K. (2020). The Potential of Pressurised Water Reactors to Provide Flexible Response in Future Electricity Grids. ENERGIES, 13(4). doi:10.3390/en13040941

DOI
10.3390/en13040941
Journal article

2019

IMAGINE - A Disruptive Change to Nuclear or How Can We Make More Out of the Existing Spent Nuclear Fuel and What Has to be Done to Make it Possible in the UK?

Merk, B., Litskevich, D., Peakman, A., & Bankhead, M. (2019). IMAGINE - A Disruptive Change to Nuclear or How Can We Make More Out of the Existing Spent Nuclear Fuel and What Has to be Done to Make it Possible in the UK?. ATW-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUCLEAR POWER, 64(6-7), 353-359. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/

Journal article

Small modular high temperature reactor optimisation - Part 1: A comparison between beryllium oxide and nuclear graphite in a small scale high temperature reactor

Atkinson, S., Abram, T. J., Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2019). Small modular high temperature reactor optimisation - Part 1: A comparison between beryllium oxide and nuclear graphite in a small scale high temperature reactor. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY, 111, 223-232. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.10.017

DOI
10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.10.017
Journal article

Small modular high temperature reactor optimisation part 2: Reactivity control for prismatic core high temperature small modular reactor, including fixed burnable poisons, spectrum hardening and control rods

Atkinson, S., Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2019). Small modular high temperature reactor optimisation part 2: Reactivity control for prismatic core high temperature small modular reactor, including fixed burnable poisons, spectrum hardening and control rods. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY, 111, 233-242. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.11.001

DOI
10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.11.001
Journal article

Modelling the draining of a molten chloride salt reactor

Lewis, E., Cartland-Glover, G., Rolfo, S., Moulinec, C., Emerson, D. R., & Merk, B. (2019). Modelling the draining of a molten chloride salt reactor. In 18th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH 2019 (pp. 4470-4483).

Conference Paper

Neutronic benchmark of the molten salt fast reactor in the frame of the EVOL and MARS collaborative projects

Brovchenko, M., Kloosterman, J. -L., Luzzi, L., Merle, E., Heuer, D., Laureau, A., . . . Merk, B. (2019). Neutronic benchmark of the molten salt fast reactor in the frame of the EVOL and MARS collaborative projects. EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies, 5, 2. doi:10.1051/epjn/2018052

DOI
10.1051/epjn/2018052
Journal article

2018

MODELLING AND SIMULATION ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE UK NUCLEAR R&D PROGRAMME ON DIGITAL REACTOR DESIGN

Lindley, B., Allen, D., Lillington, J., Smethurst, A., Smith, P., Bowman, D., . . . Eaton, M. D. (2018). MODELLING AND SIMULATION ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE UK NUCLEAR R&D PROGRAMME ON DIGITAL REACTOR DESIGN. In PROCEEDINGS OF THE 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, 2018, VOL 3. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

Conference Paper

MODELLING FROZEN SALT FILMS IN A MOLTEN SALT FAST REACTOR

Cartland-Glover, G. M., Rolfo, S., Skillen, A., Emerson, D. R., Moulinec, C., Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2018). MODELLING FROZEN SALT FILMS IN A MOLTEN SALT FAST REACTOR. In PROCEEDINGS OF THE 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, 2018, VOL 8. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

Conference Paper

MODELLING THE NEUTRONICS OF A MOLTEN SALT FAST REACTOR USING DYN3D-MG FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF THE APPLICATION OF FROZEN WALL TECHNOLOGY

Cartland-Glover, G. M., Rolfo, S., Skillen, A., Emerson, D. R., Moulinec, C., Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2018). MODELLING THE NEUTRONICS OF A MOLTEN SALT FAST REACTOR USING DYN3D-MG FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF THE APPLICATION OF FROZEN WALL TECHNOLOGY. In PROCEEDINGS OF THE 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, 2018, VOL 5. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

Conference Paper

The UK nuclear R&D programme on digital nuclear reactor design - modelling, simulation, and virtual engineering

Merk, B., Allen, D., Bankhead, M., Bowen, A., Bowman, D., De Haas, S., . . . Vikhorev, K. (2018). The UK nuclear R&D programme on digital nuclear reactor design - modelling, simulation, and virtual engineering. In Proceedings of the 2018 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, ICAPP 2018 (pp. 1085-1090).

Conference Paper

2017

On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power

Merk, B., Litskevich, D., Whittle, K. R., Bankhead, M., Taylor, R. J., & Mathers, D. (2017). On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power. Energies, 10(7), 867. doi:10.3390/en10070867

DOI
10.3390/en10070867
Journal article

2016

A molten salt reactor study for the transmutation of all German transuranium in the frame of the nuclear phase out

Merk, B., & Litskevich, D. (2016). A molten salt reactor study for the transmutation of all German transuranium in the frame of the nuclear phase out. In Physics of Reactors 2016, PHYSOR 2016: Unifying Theory and Experiments in the 21st Century Vol. 5 (pp. 3107-3116).

Conference Paper

Evaluation of the safety and breeding performance of a heterogeneous fuel assembly design for a metal fueled SFR

Merk, B., Devan, K., Puthiyavinayagam, P., Bachchan, A., Paul, D., & Srinivasan, G. (2016). Evaluation of the safety and breeding performance of a heterogeneous fuel assembly design for a metal fueled SFR. In Physics of Reactors 2016, PHYSOR 2016: Unifying Theory and Experiments in the 21st Century Vol. 5 (pp. 3094-3106).

Conference Paper

2015

Transmutation of All German Transuranium under Nuclear Phase Out Conditions - Is This Feasible from Neutronic Point of View?

Merk, B., & Litskevich, D. (2015). Transmutation of All German Transuranium under Nuclear Phase Out Conditions - Is This Feasible from Neutronic Point of View?. PLOS ONE, 10(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0145652

DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0145652
Journal article

On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor-A Neutron Physical Study

Merk, B., & Litskevich, D. (2015). On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor-A Neutron Physical Study. ENERGIES, 8(11), 12557-12572. doi:10.3390/en81112328

DOI
10.3390/en81112328
Journal article

On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study

Merk, B., & Litskevich, D. (2015). On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study. Energies, 8(11), 12328.

Journal article

Progress in reliability of fast reactor operation and new trends to increased inherent safety

Merk, B., Stanculescu, A., Chellapandi, P., & Hill, R. (2015). Progress in reliability of fast reactor operation and new trends to increased inherent safety. Applied Energy, 147, 104-116. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.023

DOI
10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.023
Journal article

Current coupling collision probability method with orthonormal flux expansion for unstructured geometries

Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2015). Current coupling collision probability method with orthonormal flux expansion for unstructured geometries. In Mathematics and Computations, Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications and Monte Carlo International Conference, M and C+SNA+MC 2015 Vol. 4 (pp. 2867-2880).

Conference Paper

2014

SP3 Solution versus Diffusion Solution in Pin-by-Pin Calculations and Conclusions Concerning Advanced Methods

Litskevich, D., & Merk, B. (2014). SP3 Solution versus Diffusion Solution in Pin-by-Pin Calculations and Conclusions Concerning Advanced Methods. JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL AND THEORETICAL TRANSPORT, 43(1-7), 214-239. doi:10.1080/00411450.2014.913184

DOI
10.1080/00411450.2014.913184
Journal article

Simulation of thermal fluid dynamics in parabolic trough receiver tubes with direct steam generation using the computer code ATHLET

Hoffmann, A., Merk, B., Hirsch, T., & Pitz-Paal, R. (2014). Simulation of thermal fluid dynamics in parabolic trough receiver tubes with direct steam generation using the computer code ATHLET. Kerntechnik, 79(3), 175-186. doi:10.3139/124.110419

DOI
10.3139/124.110419
Journal article

On the Use of a Molten Salt Fast Reactor to Apply an Idealized Transmutation Scenario for the Nuclear Phase Out

Merk, B., Rohde, U., Glivici-Cotruta, V., Litskevich, D., & Scholl, S. (2014). On the Use of a Molten Salt Fast Reactor to Apply an Idealized Transmutation Scenario for the Nuclear Phase Out. PLOS ONE, 9(4). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092776

DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0092776
Journal article

Neutron shielding studies on an advanced molten salt fast reactor design

Merk, B., & Konheiser, J. (2014). Neutron shielding studies on an advanced molten salt fast reactor design. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 64, 441-448. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2013.07.014

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2013.07.014
Journal article

2013

Overview of major HZDR developments for fast reactor analysis

Merk, B., Glivici-Cotruţă, V., Duerigen, S., Rohde, U., & Kliem, S. (2013). Overview of major HZDR developments for fast reactor analysis. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 265, 1194-1204. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.07.026

DOI
10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.07.026
Journal article

Fine Distributed Moderating Material with Improved Thermal Stability Applied to Enhance the Feedback Effects in SFR Cores

Merk, B. (2013). Fine Distributed Moderating Material with Improved Thermal Stability Applied to Enhance the Feedback Effects in SFR Cores. Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2013, 1-11. doi:10.1155/2013/217548

DOI
10.1155/2013/217548
Journal article

Moderating Material to Compensate the Drawback of High Minor Actinide Containing Transmutation Fuel on the Feedback Effects in SFR Cores

Merk, B. (2013). Moderating Material to Compensate the Drawback of High Minor Actinide Containing Transmutation Fuel on the Feedback Effects in SFR Cores. Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2013, 1-10. doi:10.1155/2013/172518

DOI
10.1155/2013/172518
Journal article

2012

An Analytical Solution of the Time-Dependent Diffusion Equation in a Composite Slab

Glivici-Cotruţă, V., & Merk, B. (2012). An Analytical Solution of the Time-Dependent Diffusion Equation in a Composite Slab. Transport Theory and Statistical Physics, 41(5-6), 356-367. doi:10.1080/00411450.2012.671217

DOI
10.1080/00411450.2012.671217
Journal article

Development and verification of the coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal-hydraulics code DYN3D-HTR for the simulation of transients in block-type HTGR

Rohde, U., Baier, S., Duerigen, S., Fridman, E., Kliem, S., & Merk, B. (2012). Development and verification of the coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal-hydraulics code DYN3D-HTR for the simulation of transients in block-type HTGR. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 251, 412-422. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.09.051

DOI
10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.09.051
Journal article

An analytical solution for the consideration of the effect of adjacent fuel assemblies; extension to VVER-440 type fuel assemblies

Merk, B., & Rohde, U. (2012). An analytical solution for the consideration of the effect of adjacent fuel assemblies; extension to VVER-440 type fuel assemblies. Kerntechnik, 77(4), 230-239. doi:10.3139/124.110248

DOI
10.3139/124.110248
Journal article

On the use of different analytical solutions for recalculation of the YALINA-Booster experiment SC3A

Merk, B., Glivici-Cotruţă, V., & Weiß, F. P. (2012). On the use of different analytical solutions for recalculation of the YALINA-Booster experiment SC3A. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 58, 11-20. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2012.01.001

DOI
10.1016/j.pnucene.2012.01.001
Journal article

Use of Zirconium-Based Moderators to Enhance Feedback Coefficients in a MOX-Fueled Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor

Merk, B., Kliem, S., Fridman, E., & Weiss, F. -P. (2012). Use of Zirconium-Based Moderators to Enhance Feedback Coefficients in a MOX-Fueled Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor. Nuclear Science and Engineering, 171(2), 136-149. doi:10.13182/nse10-58

DOI
10.13182/nse10-58
Journal article

Solutions without Space-Time Separation for ADS Experiments: Overview on Developments and Applications

Merk, B., & Glivici-Cotruţă, V. (2012). Solutions without Space-Time Separation for ADS Experiments: Overview on Developments and Applications. Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2012, 1-11. doi:10.1155/2012/140946

DOI
10.1155/2012/140946
Journal article

2011

An analytical solution for the consideration of the effect of adjacent fuel elements

Merk, B., & Rohde, U. (2011). An analytical solution for the consideration of the effect of adjacent fuel elements. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 38(11), 2428-2440. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2011.07.003

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2011.07.003
Journal article

Analysis of the influence of different arrangements for ZrH moderator material on the performance of a SFR core

Merk, B., & Weiß, F. -P. (2011). Analysis of the influence of different arrangements for ZrH moderator material on the performance of a SFR core. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 38(11), 2374-2385. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2011.07.005

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2011.07.005
Journal article

Development of the coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal-hydraulics code DYN3D-HTR for the simulation of transients in block-type HTGR

Rohde, U., Baier, S., Duerigen, S., Fridman, E., Kliem, S., & Merk, B. (2011). Development of the coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal-hydraulics code DYN3D-HTR for the simulation of transients in block-type HTGR. Kerntechnik, 76(3), 166-173. doi:10.3139/124.110147

DOI
10.3139/124.110147
Journal article

On the use of a moderation layer to improve the safety behavior in sodium cooled fast reactors

Merk, B., Fridman, E., & Weiß, F. -P. (2011). On the use of a moderation layer to improve the safety behavior in sodium cooled fast reactors. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 38(5), 921-929. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2011.01.024

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2011.01.024
Journal article

2010

A two group analytical approximation solution for an external source problem without separation of space and time

Merk, B., & Weiß, F. P. (2010). A two group analytical approximation solution for an external source problem without separation of space and time. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 37(7), 942-952. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2010.03.011

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2010.03.011
Journal article

2009

A Three-Scale Expansion Solution for a Time-Dependent<i>P<sub>1</sub></i>Neutron Transport Problem with External Source

Merk, B., & Weiß, F. P. (2009). A Three-Scale Expansion Solution for a Time-Dependent<i>P<sub>1</sub></i>Neutron Transport Problem with External Source. Nuclear Science and Engineering, 163(2), 152-174. doi:10.13182/nse163-152

DOI
10.13182/nse163-152
Journal article

On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR-burnup calculations with HELIOS 1.9 – Part I: Uranium oxide (UOX) fuel

Merk, B. (2009). On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR-burnup calculations with HELIOS 1.9 – Part I: Uranium oxide (UOX) fuel. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 36(2), 151-167. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2008.11.020

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2008.11.020
Journal article

On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR-burnup calculations with HELIOS 1.9 – Part II: Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel

Merk, B. (2009). On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR-burnup calculations with HELIOS 1.9 – Part II: Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 36(2), 168-182. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2008.11.019

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2008.11.019
Journal article

An Analytical Approximation Solution for a Time-Dependent Neutron Transport Problem with External Source and Delayed Neutron Production

Merk, B. (2009). An Analytical Approximation Solution for a Time-Dependent Neutron Transport Problem with External Source and Delayed Neutron Production. Nuclear Science and Engineering, 161(1), 49-67. doi:10.13182/nse161-49

DOI
10.13182/nse161-49
Journal article

2008

An Analytical Solution for a One Dimensional Time-Dependent Neutron Transport Problem with External Source

Merk, B. (2008). An Analytical Solution for a One Dimensional Time-Dependent Neutron Transport Problem with External Source. Transport Theory and Statistical Physics, 37(5-7), 535-549. doi:10.1080/00411450802526327

DOI
10.1080/00411450802526327
Journal article

On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR cell- and lattice calculations with HELIOS 1.9

Merk, B., & Koch, R. (2008). On the influence of spatial discretization in LWR cell- and lattice calculations with HELIOS 1.9. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 35(8), 1492-1501. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2008.01.022

DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2008.01.022
Journal article