A Study of core performance for commercial FUGEN (II); Study of nuclear characteristics of 54-pin fuel assembly

not registered; not registered; not registered; Fukuda, Kenji*; not registered; not registered

Nuclear characteristics of 54-pin fuel assembly for commercial FUGEN were studied from the view points of reactor safety and fuel-cycle economy. Coolant void reactivity and power coefficient for the analysis of reactor safety, and burnup and fuel-cycle indicator for evaluating fuel-cycle cost were investigated in reference to lattice pitch, uranium and plutonium enrichment. From the present study, the following results are summarized. (1)Uranium and plutonium fuel can be used in a wide range of enrichment. (2)Natural uranium or low enriched uranium (1wt% U) fuel mixed plutonium shows the best nuclear characteristics. (3)Nuclear characteristics are improved by more introduction of plutonium in consideration of local peaking factor and power mismatch.