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Sensitivity analysis of annual savings of poison-free control in LWRs

Conference · · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5942418
To examine how sensitive the annual savings of eliminating poison control in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) is to each cost component, a sensitivity study was performed for the breeder/moderator controlled/burner light water reactor (BMB-LWR) design concept. The new design (BMB-LWR) is compared to a standard Westinghouse PWR (Ref.3), operating on an extended burnup fuel cycle, since the BMB-LWR core is also designed to have a longer burnup cycle than previously used. From the BMB-LWR design concept, the major cost credits of the poison elimination in PWRs are the 25% reload fuel saving, the elimination of part of the CVCS, and both burnable and control poison rods. The additional costs required to realize spectral shift control have been estimated. Three major penalties were incurred in transforming a standard PWR into the BMB-LWR; the costs associated with fuel reconstitution every cycle, the incorporation of the water displacement rod system, and doubling the pumping power (due to the reduced effective core flow area).
OSTI ID:
5942418
Report Number(s):
CONF-881011-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 57
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English