Modelling the Fuel Shuffling Process Using Spent Fuel

الملخص

In this study, the AP1000 core was modeled using neutronic code packages (LEOPARD, TLINX, and 2DB) to simulate the fuel shuffling process over three cycles. In the first cycle, 157 fresh fuel assemblies with three different enrichments of U-235 (2.35%, 3.45%, and 4.45%) were used. For the second cycle, 104 spent fuel assemblies were reused, and one fresh fuel assembly with 2.35% enrichment was placed at the center, while 52 fresh fuel assemblies with 4.45% U-235 enrichment replaced the assemblies with 2.35% enrichment. In the third cycle, the configuration was similar, with 104 spent fuel assemblies reused, one fresh assembly with 2.35% placed at the center, and 52 fresh assemblies with 4.45% U-235 replacing those with 3.40% enrichment. In each cycle, all fuel assemblies were shuffled (relocated).

In this study, two simulation cases were considered: one with a clean core (no poisons), and another with burnable poisons to analyze the effect of burnable poison distribution on criticality.