ASSESSMENT OF BURNABLE ABSORBER FUEL DESIGN BY UWB1 DEPLETION CODE

Abstract

UWB1 depletion code is being developed as a fast computational tool for the study of burnable absorbers in University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic. Research of fuel depletion aims at development and introduction of advanced types of burnable absorbers in nuclear fuel. Burnable absorbers compensate for the initial excess reactivity and consequently allow for lower power peaking factors and longer fuel cycles with higher fuel enrichments. The paper describes the depletion calculations of CANDU, PWR and SFR nuclear fuel doped with rare earth oxides as burnable absorber. Uniform distribution of burnable absorber in the fuel is assumed. Based on performed depletion calculations, rare earth oxides are divided into two groups, suitable burnable absorbers and poisoning absorbers. Moreover, basic economic comparison is performed based on actual stock prices.