Stephan Kelm

Dr. Stephan Kelm serves as the Head of Thermofluid Dynamics and System Analysis (Safety Research) at the Institute of Energy Technologies (IET-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich. His work focuses on nuclear safety engineering, particularly in containment thermal hydraulics, hydrogen safety, and severe accident analysis. Kelm leads critical research in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications for nuclear safety, with extensive expertise in containment atmosphere modeling, hydrogen risk assessment, and passive safety systems.

His research interests span nuclear safety engineering, hydrogen behavior in containment systems, computational fluid dynamics for nuclear applications, severe accident analysis, thermal hydraulics, and uncertainty quantification. Kelm's work addresses critical safety challenges in nuclear power plants, particularly concerning hydrogen combustion risks, containment integrity during severe accidents, and the development of advanced simulation tools for safety assessment.

Kelm has contributed significantly to the development and validation of the containmentFOAM CFD solver, which has become a specialized tool for nuclear containment analysis. His research encompasses both fundamental fluid dynamics phenomena relevant to nuclear safety and practical applications for reactor design and accident management. He actively participates in major European collaborative projects including AMHYCO and SASPAM-SA, focusing on hydrogen safety and advanced reactor designs.

His extensive publication record demonstrates leadership in nuclear safety research, with numerous conference proceedings and journal articles covering containment thermal hydraulics, hydrogen risk assessment, CFD model development, and severe accident management strategies. Kelm's work bridges theoretical fluid dynamics with practical nuclear safety applications, contributing to enhanced safety standards in the nuclear industry.

As a senior researcher at one of Europe's leading nuclear research institutions, Kelm collaborates extensively with international partners and contributes to the development of safety guidelines and regulatory practices for nuclear power plants worldwide.