Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies

The study of the void reactivity variation in innovative BWR fuel assemblies is presented in this paper. The innovative assemblies are loaded with high enrichment fresh UO2 and MOX fuels. UO2 fuel enrichment is increased above existing design limitations for LWR fuels (>5%). MOX fuel enrichment w...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andrius Slavickas, Raimondas Pabarčius, Aurimas Tonkūnas, Gediminas Stankūnas, Eugenijus Ušpuras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/757201
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849396779115610112
author Andrius Slavickas
Raimondas Pabarčius
Aurimas Tonkūnas
Gediminas Stankūnas
Eugenijus Ušpuras
author_facet Andrius Slavickas
Raimondas Pabarčius
Aurimas Tonkūnas
Gediminas Stankūnas
Eugenijus Ušpuras
author_sort Andrius Slavickas
collection DOAJ
description The study of the void reactivity variation in innovative BWR fuel assemblies is presented in this paper. The innovative assemblies are loaded with high enrichment fresh UO2 and MOX fuels. UO2 fuel enrichment is increased above existing design limitations for LWR fuels (>5%). MOX fuel enrichment with fissile Pu content is established to achieve the same burnup level as that of high enrichment UO2 fuel. For the numerical analysis, the TRITON functional module of SCALE 6.1 code with the 238-group ENDF/B-VI cross section data library was applied. The investigation of the void reactivity feedback is performed in the entire 0–100% void fraction range. Higher values of void reactivity coefficient for assembly loaded with MOX fuel are found in comparison with values for assembly loaded with UO2 fuel. Moreover, coefficient values for MOX fuel are positive over 75% void fraction. The variation of the void reactivity coefficient is explained by the results of the decomposition analysis based on four-factor formula and neutron absorption reactions for main isotopes. Additionally, the impact of the moderation enhancement on the void reactivity coefficient was investigated for the innovative assembly with MOX fuel.
format Article
id doaj-art-ac0d44748f2e4332ab4cae43ed98fb8e
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-6075
1687-6083
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
spelling doaj-art-ac0d44748f2e4332ab4cae43ed98fb8e2025-08-20T03:39:14ZengWileyScience and Technology of Nuclear Installations1687-60751687-60832015-01-01201510.1155/2015/757201757201Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR AssembliesAndrius Slavickas0Raimondas Pabarčius1Aurimas Tonkūnas2Gediminas Stankūnas3Eugenijus Ušpuras4Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Straße 3, 44403 Kaunas, LithuaniaLithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Straße 3, 44403 Kaunas, LithuaniaLithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Straße 3, 44403 Kaunas, LithuaniaLithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Straße 3, 44403 Kaunas, LithuaniaLithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Straße 3, 44403 Kaunas, LithuaniaThe study of the void reactivity variation in innovative BWR fuel assemblies is presented in this paper. The innovative assemblies are loaded with high enrichment fresh UO2 and MOX fuels. UO2 fuel enrichment is increased above existing design limitations for LWR fuels (>5%). MOX fuel enrichment with fissile Pu content is established to achieve the same burnup level as that of high enrichment UO2 fuel. For the numerical analysis, the TRITON functional module of SCALE 6.1 code with the 238-group ENDF/B-VI cross section data library was applied. The investigation of the void reactivity feedback is performed in the entire 0–100% void fraction range. Higher values of void reactivity coefficient for assembly loaded with MOX fuel are found in comparison with values for assembly loaded with UO2 fuel. Moreover, coefficient values for MOX fuel are positive over 75% void fraction. The variation of the void reactivity coefficient is explained by the results of the decomposition analysis based on four-factor formula and neutron absorption reactions for main isotopes. Additionally, the impact of the moderation enhancement on the void reactivity coefficient was investigated for the innovative assembly with MOX fuel.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/757201
spellingShingle Andrius Slavickas
Raimondas Pabarčius
Aurimas Tonkūnas
Gediminas Stankūnas
Eugenijus Ušpuras
Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
title Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
title_full Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
title_fullStr Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
title_full_unstemmed Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
title_short Void Reactivity Coefficient Analysis during Void Fraction Changes in Innovative BWR Assemblies
title_sort void reactivity coefficient analysis during void fraction changes in innovative bwr assemblies
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/757201
work_keys_str_mv AT andriusslavickas voidreactivitycoefficientanalysisduringvoidfractionchangesininnovativebwrassemblies
AT raimondaspabarcius voidreactivitycoefficientanalysisduringvoidfractionchangesininnovativebwrassemblies
AT aurimastonkunas voidreactivitycoefficientanalysisduringvoidfractionchangesininnovativebwrassemblies
AT gediminasstankunas voidreactivitycoefficientanalysisduringvoidfractionchangesininnovativebwrassemblies
AT eugenijususpuras voidreactivitycoefficientanalysisduringvoidfractionchangesininnovativebwrassemblies