METHOD FOR REALISATION OF FUEL CYCLE IN NUCLEAR PRESSURE TUBE REACTOR Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC G21D3/08 

FIELD: power engineering.

SUBSTANCE: reactor core is charged with fresh uranium-erbium fuel with even enrichment of fuel assemblies profiled along height. Energy release is balanced along reactor height in process of programmed shifts of fuel assemblies within three zones of energy release profiling. At the same time those cells are used for shift, in which characteristics of uneven energy release along height of fuel assembly, according to results of assessment, exceed specified value. Fuel assemblies withdrawn from reactor pond are installed into identified cells of reactor, with values of energy production in the range of 2100÷2500 MW*day/FA, confirmed by results of instrumental inspection with account of uranium and plutonium content in FA. Besides FA withdrawn from reactor pond after keeping with rated energy production, which does not exceed 2500 MW*day/FA, are also exposed to instrumental inspection.

EFFECT: reduced number of spent FA per unit of generated power, reduced costs for transportation and storage of spent FA.

3 cl, 3 dwg