Bounding Approach in BUC Implementation in Pool at VVER-440,
16th Symposium of AER on VVER Reactor Physics and Reactor Safety (2006, Bratislava, Slovakia)
Physical Problems of Spent Fuel Decommissioning and Radwaste
Abstract
As new fuel designs (with higher enrichment) are introduced, spent fuel storage facilities might not fulfill criticality safety criteria when using fresh fuel approach to the criticality analyses. Since optimum moderation conditions evaluation even in wet storage systems is required by some regulatory bodies, any credit for soluble boron cannot be taken. Thus, the only suitable way to prove subcriticality of the given spent fuel system with higher enriched/burnt fuel is burnup credit implementation.
This paper outlines burnup credit implementation methodology as demonstrated on criticality evaluation of VVER-440 reactor pool at NPP Dukovany. Operational history effects, isotopic set choice, as well as computational issues (SCALE 4.4a was used both for depletion and criticality calculations) are discussed, maintaining strictly conservative approach.
Bounding approach in operational history treatment was carefully examined. Criticality evaluation using selection of (as expected) conservative values of operational parameters (specific power, fuel and moderator temperatures, boron content in moderator,..) was compared to criticality evaluation of real fuel assemblies from the NPP database. Therefore, bounding approach was justified and it was shown that it is not excessively conservative.
Presented methodology can be applied on any similar spent fuel facility. Suggestions for future research are noted (mainly end-effect evaluation and consideration of profiled fuel) and urgent need of validation of depletion codes for VVER systems is emphasized