Title: Radial power distribution optimisation for the VVER-1000 initial core loading pattern

Authors: S.M. Shauddin

Addresses: Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Ganakbari, Savar Upazila, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract: Optimising the Radial Power Distribution (RPD) of the VVER-1000 Reference and Reconfigured (R&R) cores has been studied herein for the initial core loading pattern using the code MCNP. Optimisation of the relative RPD at Cold Zero Power (CZP) and Hot Full Power (HFP) is achieved only by means of enrichment zoning with core configurations other than that of the reference core. Fuel burnup calculation of the R&R cores was also performed to determine the core lifetime and activity accumulation. The best configuration (Config-2) shows excellent RPD over the core compared to the R&R cores without significantly disrupting the excess reactivity of the core and neutron flux. The radial power peaking factors of this configuration are about 1.6 and 1.2 times lower than the reference core at critical CZP and HFP, respectively. The lifetime of the initial loading of the core is about 50 GW days longer than the reference core.

Keywords: activity accumulation; burnup calculation; CZP; cold zero power; core loading pattern; enrichment zoning; HFP; hot full power; initial core; radial power distribution; R&R; reference and reconfigured; MCNP; VVER-1000.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2023.135378

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2023 Vol.16 No.3, pp.206 - 215

Received: 17 Oct 2022
Accepted: 26 Aug 2023
Published online: 07 Dec 2023 *

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