LWR Equilibrium Cycle Search Methodology for Global Fuel Cycle Analysis

摘要

To understand the limitations of recycling Pu in light water reactors (LWRs) we have extended our assembly-level equilibrium cycle methodology to the global regime. Because the application of global depletion analysis includes the evaluation of numerous fuel loading patterns for in-core optimization, previous studies have used assembly-level calculations coupled with a reactivity-based cycling model (RBCM) to approximate global fuel depletion calculations. Using a typical 4-loop LWR fueled with 3-batches of CORAIL assemblies, we address the error introduced from the RBCM by comparing our global equilibrium cycle calculations with equivalent assembly-level equilibrium cycle calculations.