Steady-State Fuel Performance Analysis for the Versatile Test Reactor with LIFE-METAL

摘要

Steady-state fuel performance calculations have been carried out using the LIFE-METAL code for the VTR reference pin design. Performance results have been compared to the EBR-II Mark-V design criteria where appropriate. The results obtained indicate that the EBR-II Mark-V steady state design criteria would be met by the VTR reference pin design. However, it is noted that results from fuel performance codes carry some uncertainties and should typically be used to supplement experimental results. To this end, sensitivity studies were also carried out on the plenum length and cladding thickness to establish trends. While the absolute values obtained from the fuel performance codes might not be exact, the relative change and trends predicted would be representative of the reality. The trends predicted through this work indicated that through increasing the plenum length or increasing the cladding thickness it would be possible to enhance some of the fuel performance characteristics.