CONTROL OF ABSORBING ELEMENT LIFETIME DURING OPERATION OF VVER 1000

K.Y.Kurakin, S.A.Kushmanov, V.V.Bryukhin, OKB “GIDROPRESS”, Russia

22nd Symposium of AER on VVER Reactor Physics and Reactor Safety (2012, Průhonice, Czech Republic)
CORE MONITORING, SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING

Abstract

In design justification, considering a conservative approach, the lifetime of absorber
element (AE) is limited to 10 years, among them not more than 3 years as a part in the control
group. The main characteristics of radiation load of VVER-1000 AE affecting its lifetime are
boron burn-up and fast neutrons fluence (over 0,1 MeV) on the welded joint of AE end-piece.

Presentation / full paper