On Vipac-MOX performance in BN-800 reactor

Both Russian ROSATOM and Belgian SCK•CEN are supporting research and developments with the objective of conducting the research and development necessary to evaluate the use of transmutation fuels. Vibro-compacted (VIPAC) fuel as today is considered as option for current BN-600 reactor and BN-800 which is under construction.In the past the VIPAC fuel was studied extensively in the 1960s, 1970s, and till late 1980s in Belgium. More recently, this fuel form has being studied internationally as a potential plutoniumburning fuel in FUJI project. For transmutation purposes and for purposes of closed fuel cycle, the VIPAC fuel has potential advantages. Most recent receashes of vibro-fabricated fuels in comparison with pellet fuels for fast reactors comes from Russian research programs devoted to R&D for BN-800. This paper provides a review of modern development efforts related to the verification of VIPAC fuel for use in BN-800 reacto based on irradiation tests and existing international experience. In order to evaluate performance of VIPAC fuel in actual reactor conditions a number of models for properties of structural materials (stainless-steal claddings) and for integral fuel rod behaviour has been developed and tested with SCK•CEN fuel performance code MACROS. Results of full-scale simulations are compared with PIE tests.