Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Handling of fission reactor component structure within... – Fuel component
Patent
1997-05-19
1998-07-28
Wasil, Daniel D.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Handling of fission reactor component structure within...
Fuel component
G21C 1920, G21C 512
Patent
active
057871396
ABSTRACT:
In a fuel loading method of the present invention, a nuclear reactor is operated up to the second cycle without exchanging the fuel. Low-enrichment fuel is discharged from a core at the end of the second cycle and at the end of the third cycle. Moreover, high-enrichment fuel with an average enrichment higher than that of replacement fuel is discharged from the core at the end of the third cycle and reloaded into the core at the end of the fifth cycle.
According to the present invention, because the high-enrichment fuel discharged from the core at the end of the third cycle normally has a high enrichment, a short combustion period, and a low burnup compared to the replacement fuel burned for 4 to 5 cycles, a lot of fissionable material are left in the high-enrichment fuel. By reloading the high-enrichment fuel to the core after one cycle or more passes, it is possible to greatly increase the discharge exposure of initially loaded fuel. Thereby, it is possible to greatly decrease the number of pieces of the replacement fuel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5271050 (1993-12-01), Nagano et al.
patent: 5307387 (1994-04-01), Nakajima et al.
Haikawa Katsumasa
Kanda Akiko
Kirihara Shinichi
Mochida Takaaki
Nakamura Mitsunari
Hitachi , Ltd.
Hitachi Engineering Co. Ltd.
Wasil Daniel D.
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