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Calculation of the deterministic optimum loading pattern of the BUSHEHR VVER-1000 reactor using the weighting factor method

Rahmani, Y ; Sharif University of Technology | 2012

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2012.05.023
  3. Publisher: 2012
  4. Abstract:
  5. In the calculation of the optimum loading pattern for a nuclear reactor, several parameters, including the multiplication factor maximization, the raising of the desired safety threshold during the cycle length and the flattening of the radial power peaking factor should be taken into account. Our evaluation of numerous probable arrangements within the VVER-1000 reactor core (approx. 6 × 10 14 cases) indicated that a direct search of the optimum loading pattern is not feasible. Hence, in this study, the weighting factor method and some constraints on the arrangement of the fuel assemblies were applied so that the above cases were reduced to only 244 possible arrangements. Then, using a thermo-neutronic computational cycle based on the in-tandem application of WIMSD5-B, CITATION-LDI2 and COBRA-EN codes, the thermo-neutronic parameters of all 244 probable arrangements were calculated. Finally, the optimum loading pattern of the VVER-1000 reactor core was evolved through a screening of the mentioned cases
  6. Keywords:
  7. Loading pattern ; Weighting coefficients ; Loading patterns ; Structural constraints ; Thermo-neutronic codes ; VVER-1000 reactor ; Weighting coefficient ; Reactor cores ; Safety factor ; Water cooled reactors ; Loading
  8. Source: Annals of Nuclear Energy ; Volume 49 , 2012 , Pages 170-181 ; 03064549 (ISSN)
  9. URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306454912001910