Advanced fuel management - evolution and future direction

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:6662735

Chapin, D L; Secker, J R ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

Several utility needs for nuclear power plant operation have a direct impact on in-core fuel management. Primary among these are reduced fuel cycle cost, longer cycle lengths, high fuel burnup, and plant life extension. Plant operations have evolved over the years from the typical annual cycle, outinloading patterns of 10 to 15 yr ago to the situation today in which a majority of US pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are now operating with extended fuel cycles and high fuel discharge burnup. A typical US PWR reload cycle now has an 18-month cycle length, and the fuel is capable of operation to region average discharge burnup of 40,000 to 45,000 MWd/tonne U. Some utilities are now striving to further extend these parameters up to a 24-month cycle length and/or to region average discharge burnups above 50,000 MWd/tonne U.

• OSTI ID: 6662735
• Report Number(s): CONF-921102--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 66
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
BURNABLE POISONS
BURNUP
DESIGN
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
ENRICHMENT
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL MANAGEMENT
FUEL RODS
MATERIALS
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
NUCLEAR POISONS
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS