​​​​​​​​Plant Fuel-Reload Optimization​​

Goal

To develop an integrated platform that uses state-of-the art computational and modeling techniques and integrates all tasks required for plant fuel-reload into one automated process.​

Outcome

Researchers will develop an integrated platform that combines multiple tasks required for a fuel-reload analysis and includes fuel-pattern optimization. The integration removes manual data transfer between tasks, eliminating human-error, and the optimization capability allows for a reduced fuel-batch size. This platform also allows the transition from a deterministic approach to transient and accident analyses to a probabilistic (risk-informed) approach. The risk-informed approach to safety evaluations will enable additional reductions in fuel-batch size. The developed platform will be ready-for deployment to industry, providing utilities the option to perform fuel analyses in-house, independent from fuel vendors, an additional savings. This work will assist industry with the transition to accident-tolerant fuels (ATFs) because the developed framework and computational platform will be capable of performing evaluations of ATFs during both the licensing phase and normal plant operations.

Planned Major Accomplishments:​

• ​2023—complete an economic benefit assessment for the new fuel-management plan and extend the framework's capabilities to other core configurations (i.e., pressurized water reactors with ATFs and 24-month refueling cycle, generic boiling-water reactors).

• 2024—complete demonstration of ready-for-deployment framework to the industry, including equilibrium scenarios (i.e., normal plant operation).

• 2025—prepare a topical report (TR) that demonstrates the framework and its capabilities, including all regulatory-required steps for a typical license-amendment request; support the TR review and approval process by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
  

Related Reports

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