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A neutronic feasibility study for LEU conversion of the WWR-SM research reactor in Uzbekistan.

Conference ·
OSTI ID:11057

The WWR-SM research reactor in Uzbekistan has operated at 10 MW since 1979, using Russian-supplied IRT-3M fuel assemblies containing 90% enriched uranium. Burnup tests of three full-sized IRT-3M FA with 36% enrichment were successfully completed to a burn up of about {approximately}50% in 1987-1989. In August 1998, four IRT-3M FA with 36% enriched uranium were loaded into the core to initiate conversion of the entire core to 36% enriched fuel. This paper presents the results of equilibrium fuel cycle comparisons of the reactor using HEU (90%) and HEU (36%) IRT-3M fuel and compares results with the performance of IRT-4M FA containing LEU (19.75%). The results show that an LEU (19.75%) density of 3.8 g/cm{sup 3} is required to match the cycle length of the HEU (90%) core and an LEU density 3.9 g/cm{sup 3} is needed to match the cycle length of the HEU (36%) core.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
11057
Report Number(s):
ANL/TD/CP-97490
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English