FIELD: power industry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to an operating method of water nuclear reactors, namely thermal reactors in a thorium fuel cycle with extended 233U reproduction. The proposed method involves initial loading of a core with fuel assemblies of an oxide thorium fuel containing the material capable of nuclear fission, provision of the reactor core with a water retarder and a heat carrier, formation of intensity of a neutron flux and its energy distribution at the beginning of the reactor campaign in a spectrum in which a share of fast neutrons prevails above thermal ones. Heavy water (D2O) is used as a retarder and a heat carrier; water/fuel volume ratio is chosen in the range of values of 0.7-1.0, balance between breeding isotope 233U and neutron absorbers is performed by continuous dilution during the reactor campaign of heavy water with light water (H2O), thus softening the neutron flux spectrum.
EFFECT: simpler control of reactor reactivity, as well as increase of operating safety and service life of a core.
2 cl
