FUEL CHANNEL ANALYSIS FOR 35% RIH BREAK IN CANDU REACTOR LOADED WITH CANFLEX-RU FUEL BUNDLES

  • Published : 1998.05.01

Abstract

A preliminary fuel channel analysis for 35% reactor inlet header (RIH) break in CANDU reactor loaded with the CANFLEX-RU fuel bundles has been performed. The predicted results are compared with those for the reactor compared with those for the reactor loaded with standard 37-element bundles. The maximum fuel centerline and sheath temperatures for the CANFLEX-RU bundle channel were lower by 338 and 122 $^{\circ}C$, respectively, than those for the standard bundle because of the Bower maximum linear power of the CANFLEX-RU bundle In spite of the 0.4 FPS higher power pulse of the CANFLEX-RU bundle case. Fuel integrity margin to fuel breakup for the CANFLEX-RU bundle is about 50 J/g higher than that for the standard bundle. The PT/CT contact for the CANFLEX-RU bundle occurred 2 s later than that for the standard bundle. The PT/CT contact temperature for the CANFLEX-RU bundle was 2 $^{\circ}C$ lower than that for the standard bundle. These provide the CANFLEX-RU bundle with the negligibly enhanced safety margin for the fuel channel integrity in CANDU 6 reactor, compared with the standard bundle.

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