Integral fuel burnable absorber experience in two- and three-loop cores

Conference · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6907539

Simmons, R L; Jones, N D; Pritchett, J E; Mueller, D E; Popa, F D

The purpose of this paper is to describe the planned use of an integral fuel burnable absorber (IFBA) in two demanding loading patterns. The IFBA used in a thin boride coating on the surface of the fuel pellet. Typically, approx.30% of the fuel rods in an assembly contain coated pellets. The first loading pattern is for a three-loop core that has twice-burned fuel in all baffle locations except for one location in the eighth core. The second pattern is for a two-loop core, annual cycle. IFBAs have been successfully used in difficult two- and three-loop very low leakage loading patterns. These patterns would not have been possible with discrete burnable absorbers. Even if discrete burnable absorbers could have been used, the cycle length would have been shorter than it will be with the patterns that use IFBAs.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., NFD, Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6907539
• Report Number(s): CONF-861102-
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 53; ISSN TANSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
BURNABLE POISONS
BURNUP
COATED FUEL PARTICLES
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL MANAGEMENT
FUEL PARTICLES
MATERIALS
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
NUCLEAR POISONS
OPTIMIZATION
POWER DISTRIBUTION
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR MATERIALS