Inert Matrix Fuel for LWRs: Preliminary Safety Assessment

摘要

The paper focuses on the investigation of a "CERamic-METal" (CERMET) innovative inert matrix fuel option for burning Pu in conventional Light Water Reactors (e.g. for treating Pu in a phasing-out strategy by reducing the conversion of U to Pu). The activity has been funded by the European Atomic Energy Community's (Euratom) within the FP-6 LWR-DEPUTY project [1]. A code-to-code benchmark has been defined to investigate the safety performances at the sub-assembly (SA) level and to validate methodologies and codes [1]. The reactivity coefficients near operating conditions, evaluated by several partners (KIT, NRG, FZJ and NNL), are in reasonable qualitative agreement and favorable for reactor safety. Preliminary analyses of a PWR core loaded, partially or fully, with the same SAs adopted in the benchmark show the needs for further studies on SAs design and core loading scheme optimization. Margins for improvements have been identified.