Abstract
The qualification of the RJH fuel requires the demonstration of the satisfactory operation of an actual full-size fuel element in representative conditions. Because the flux characteristics of BR2 are closest to the future characteristics of RJH and because the fuels are of comparable design, test irradiations have already been made, including a mixed BR2-RJH fuel element, manufactured at BR2 standard dimensions.
However, for a full-size irradiation, there are considerable differences between the BR2 and the RJH regarding the full element diameter, the fuel cooling conditions and the pressure drop over the core.
So, EVITA is a semi-open loop, "grafted" on BR2 vessel, in which water is taken in the upper plenum and taken to a "booster" pump, installed in BR2 pool. The central channel is modified to accommodate the dimensions of the full-size RJH fuel element.
Given that there is no burnable poison in RJH fuel and that there is no way to move to a "warmer" or "colder" position to compensate for the fuel burnup, the biggest challenge with this irradiation will be to provide adequate - for RJH - irradiation conditions without penalising too much the other users and the productions of BR2.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Transaction RRFM 2009 |
| Place of Publication | Brussels, Belgium |
| Volume | 1 |
| State | Published - Mar 2009 |
| Event | 2009 - RRFM - 13th Annual Topical Meeting on Research Reactor Fuel Management - ENS, Vienna Duration: 22 Mar 2009 → 25 Mar 2009 http://www.euronuclear.org/meetings/rrfm2009/ |
Conference
| Conference | 2009 - RRFM - 13th Annual Topical Meeting on Research Reactor Fuel Management |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Vienna |
| Period | 2009-03-22 → 2009-03-25 |
| Internet address |