Operation Experience of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel at Ukrainian NPPs

Abstract

To ensure compatibility with the more robust design of TVSA manufactured by TVEL JSC, a modification of the Westinghouse FA, referred to as RWFA, was announced in 2013, which was designed to be more robust. Since 2015, RWFAs has been in pilot operation and since 2019 in commercial operation in Ukraine. The supply of Westinghouse FAs to Ukraine was under constant supervision and integrity control at all stages of operation and after its end. From the very beginning of the implementation of the WFAs, specialists of SE "NNEGC "Energoatom" and Westinghouse Company with the scientific support of NFC STE NSC KIPT carried out the annual inspections of the fuel assemblies. Based on the inspection results of 86 WFAs/RWFAs after 1-3 years of operation, it was concluded that the obtained values of the parameters characterizing the integrity of WFAs/RWFAs did not exceed the limits set during the FA design and safety substantiation of the core loading where those FAs were operated. All FAs that were subjected to scheduled inspections were loaded in the subsequent fuel cycles.

Keywords

• VVER-1000
• Bow
• Inspection
• Growth
• Twist
• Fuel inspection and repair equipment