Achievements in Westinghouse discrete and integral fuel burnable absorber usage

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:5434043

Kapil, S K; Secker, J R; Keller, H W

Burnable absorber usage for pressurized water reactor (PWR) reload cores continues to increase as utilities seek improved fuel efficiency and increased plant availability. Extended cycle lengths, increased fuel burnups, and reduced neutron leakage fuel management strategies have contributed to this trend. To help customers meet their core management objectives, Westinghouse has gained extensive experience with the design and manufacture of three burnable absorbers that are compatible with all PWR fuel applications. The Pyrex borosilicate glass burnable absorber and the wet annular burnable absorber (WABA) are discrete absorbers, while the most recently developed absorber, the ZrB{sub 2} integral fuel burnable absorber (IFBA), is contained entirely within the fuel rods. Westinghouse was also the first to demonstrate the use of gadolinia as a PWR burnable absorber; however, its overall performance compared to the ZrB{sub 2} IFBA does not make it a clearly preferred choice for PWR applications. The three burnable absorbers offer different performance characteristics and features. The most appropriate burnable absorber depends on the specific needs of the utility.

• OSTI ID: 5434043
• Report Number(s): CONF-881011--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 57
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
AVAILABILITY
BORIDES
BORON CARBIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
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GLASS
MATERIALS
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OXIDES
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PERFORMANCE
POWER DISTRIBUTION
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTIVITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
RELIABILITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
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WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WESTINGHOUSE STANDARD REACTOR
ZIRCONIUM BORIDES
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