PWR核电厂乏燃料贮存临界计算重要核素的选取

信用核素选取是基于燃耗信用制乏燃料贮存临界安全分析的关键一步。通过对不同富集度、燃耗深度及停堆冷却时间下典型PWR燃料组件分析,以核素中子吸收份额大小排序为依据,筛选出对总的中子吸收起主要贡献的核素。结果显示,47个核素即可包络停堆后0~20a内影响乏燃料贮存系统反应性的所有核素中的99%。通过核素敏感性因子分析证明依据中子吸收份额排序选取重要核素的方法是合理的,与基准算例的结果对比证明所筛选出的核素能足够代表影响系统反应性的所有重要核素。     

Beyond design basis accidents in spent-fuel pools — Generic Issue 82

Nuclear reactor plants include storage facilities for the wet storage of spent-fuel assemblies. The safety function of the spent-fuel pool (SFP) and storage racks is to cool the spent-fuel assemblies and maintain them in a subcritical array during all credible storage conditions and to provide safe means of loading the assemblies into shipping casks.Generic Issue 82 (GI-82) relates to the concern that for a postulated accident sequence that results in the loss of water from a light-water reactor (LWR) spent-fuel storage pool, a Zircaloy cladding fire could occur and propagate to older stored fuel. This issue was identified during hearings concerning SFP reracking amendments in the late 1970s when licensees were starting to use high-density storage racks. High-density racks are used to accommodate the storage of spent fuel in SFPs at reactor sites until such time as the Department of Energy (DOE) repository is available and spent fuel can be removed from the reactor sites. Maintaining a low-density storage configuration for recently discharged spent fuel would reduce the Zircaloy cladding fire probability by an order of magnitude, but at a greater cost for additional onsite storage space.The accident sequences that could result in water loss from the SFP, including beyond design basis earthquakes, various types of seal failures and dropped shipping casks, and the Zircaloy cladding fire issues have been studied by the NRC staff. The results of these studies are provided in NUREG-1353, “Regulatory Analysis for the Resolution of Generic Issue 82, Beyond Design Basis Accidents in Spent-Fuel Pools”. Although these studies conclude that most of the spent-fuel pool risk is derived from beyond design basis earthquakes, this risk is not greater than the risk from core damage accidents due to these beyond design basis earthquakes. Therefore, reducing the risk from spent-fuel pools due to events beyond the safe shutdown earthquake would still leave a comparable risk due to core damage accidents. The risk due to beyond design basis accidents in spent-fuel pools, while not negligible, is sufficiently low that the added cost involved with further risk reduction is not warranted.     

乏燃料储存与运输两用容器安全性能研究进展

乏燃料运输和储存两用容器具备乏燃料运输和储存两种功能,是乏燃料实现最终贮存和处置前的一种储运方式。本文介绍国际乏燃料储存与运输两用容器安全设计要求和安全验证实践经验,研究适合我国乏燃料储存与运输两用容器安全设计要求和安全验证要求,为我国乏燃料储存与运输安全提供参考。     

Description of the shuffle design software MARLA

MARLA is the Studsvik software for the automated design and analysis of a fuel shuffle. The software is currently being applied to Boiling Water Reactors, but will eventually be extended to all Light Water Reactor types. MARLA performs all tasks related to planning the fuel shuffle, including the optimisation of the fuel movement schedule, a complete shutdown margin analysis of all intermediate core configurations using the licensing-grade SIMULATE-3 nodal code, and generation of the official Fuel Movement Checklist used by the crane operators during core alterations. Shutdown margin analysis is interactive with the shuffle design and takes place during the planning stage – not after the sequence has been planned. In addition, MARLA provides the means to manage all fuel pools and nuclear components on site, as well as optimise the choice of bundles to be loaded into dry storage casks to open space in the storage pools to meet future storage needs. This paper describes the software in superficial detail.     

U.S. regulatory perspectives on the back end of the fuel cycle: EUROSAFE 2013 proceeding

For the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the reactor licensees it regulates, there are a number of contemporary issues associated with the back end of the fuel cycle including, the agency's revision to its “Waste Confidence” decision and the path-forward for high-level waste disposal. Additionally, the 2012 Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future recommendations, the future of reprocessing, consolidated interim spent fuel storage, and maintaining technical competence within the NRC in challenging budgetary conditions are addressed. I conclude that there is confidence in the feasibility of safe storage of spent nuclear fuel following the licensed operational life of a reactor and any change in high-level waste policy will require Congressional action to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.     

核电站循环停堆日期预测及循环长度的评价

核电站反应堆循环停堆日期预测及循环长度的评价都是为燃料管理提供设计输入.本文介绍了两种循环停堆日期预测方法,并指出了其适用范围;同时介绍了循环长度的标定方法,并用该方法评价了几个循环的理论循环长度,最后分析了标定误差.     

10MWt固态燃料熔盐堆控制棒失控抽出事故分析

钍基熔盐堆核能系统项目是中科院先导科技专项之一,其战略性目标是研发第四代熔盐冷却裂变反应堆核能系统。基于10 MWt固态燃料熔盐堆的系统设计,开发了适用于球床式反应堆系统的安全分析软件,并以高温气冷堆为对象对程序计算结果的准确性进行了验证。基于该软件程序,对固态燃料球床堆(Thorium Molten Salt Reactor-Solid Fuel,TMSR-SF)控制棒失控抽出事故进行了分析计算,研究了不同停堆限值及各停堆信号对事故的影响。计算结果表明,超功率停堆限值越高,出口温度限值越大,信号延迟时间越长,反应堆停堆越晚,堆芯功率和燃料最高温度越高。在TMSR-SF控制棒失控抽出事故下,燃料最高温度不超过860°C,远低于1 600°C的熔化温度限值。     

Evaluation of decay heating in shutdown reactors

Heating from the decay of radioactive nuclides in shutdown reactors plays an important role in the safety evaluation of nuclear power plants. It also must be known in order to design spent fuel storage systems, shutdown reactor cooling systems and heat sink, reprocessing and nuclear waste disposal systems. Of these applications, the analysis of reactor accident scenarios has been the main impetus to develop more accurate methods of decay heat evaluation. It was recognized early in the 1970s that the knowledge was inadequate for safety requirements and that this placed an economic burden on nuclear power plants.Intensive research has been undertaken in the past few years and this has led to a much more precise knowledge of decay heat power in Light Water Reactors (LWR). With additional work this improvement can soon be extended to other reactors types. This paper reviews the background, recent research developments and the evolution of a major revision of the American Nuclear Society Standard for decay heat power in LWR.     

Improved method to demonstrate the structural integrity of high density fuel storage racks

Reracking of existing fuel pools to the maximum extent is desirable from an economical point of view. This goal can be achieved by minimizing the gaps between the spent fuel storage racks. Since the rack design is aimed at enabling consolidated fuel rod storage, additional requirements arise with respect to the design and the structural analysis. The loads resulting from seismic events are decisive for the structural analysis and require a specially detailed and in-depth analysis for high seismic loads. The verification of structural integrity and functionality is performed in two phases. In the first phase the motional behavior of single racks, rows of racks and, where required, of all racks in the pool is simulated by excitation with displacement time histories under consideration of the fluid–structure interaction (FSI). The displacements from these simulations are evaluated, while the loads are utilized as input data for the structural analysis of the racks and the pool floor. The structural analyses for the racks comprise substantially stress analyses for base material and welds as well as stability analyses for the support channels and the rack outside walls. The analyses are performed in accordance with the specified codes and standards.     

钠冷快堆熔断式非能动停堆系统方案设计

为保证和增强池式快堆的安全性,通过对比分析现有的非能动停堆装置,基于将某些合金在特定温度下拉伸强度发生突变的特性作为钠冷快堆非能动停堆的触发条件,提出了一种钠冷快堆熔断式非能动停堆系统的设计概念,能在发生无保护超功率事故或无保护失流事故的情况下引入负反应性。针对中国实验快堆(CEFR)的设计完成了熔断式非能动停堆系统的方案设计论证,并利用分析程序DYN4G对这一非能动停堆系统在CEFR无保护事故下的响应情况进行了模拟计算,由此得到了其组件设计的关键参数。分析结果表明,通过合理设计,在发生无保护事故时,熔断式非能动停堆系统能有效降低事故情况下的堆芯燃料组件及冷却剂的温度,进一步提高了钠冷快堆应对严重事故的能力。     

Analysis of decay heat removal from RBMK-1500 reactor in decommissioning phase by natural circulation of water and air

The main problem in nuclear energy is providing of safety at all stages of lifetime of nuclear installations in conditions of normal operation, accidents and at shutdown. Ignalina NPP, located in Lithuania, is one of the latest with RBMK reactors at highest capacity. Ignalina NPP has two units, both are closed for decommissioning now (in 2004 and 2009). Both units are equipped with RBMK-1500 reactors, the thermal power output is 4200 MW, the electrical power capacity is 1500 MW for each. In RBMK-1500 reactor the fuel assemblies remain for long time inside reactor core after the final shutdown. The paper discusses possibility of heat removal from the RBMK-1500 core at shutdown condition by natural circulation of water (1) and air (2) inside the fuel channels. In first case the decay heat from fuel assemblies is removed due to natural circulation of water and the piping above reactor core should be cooled by means of ventilation in the drum separator compartments. To warrant free access of air in to fuel channels (in the second case) the reactor cooling system should be completely dry out and the pressure headers and the steam discharge valves in steam lines should be opened. If mentioned conditions will be fulfilled, the reactor core will be cooled by natural circulation of water or air and fuel rods remain intact.     

剂量率在严重事故下乏燃料损伤评价系统中的应用

本文介绍了一种利用剂量率监测值评价严重事故时乏燃料损伤程度的方法。分别计算不同富集度、燃耗的乏燃料100%包壳损伤的剂量率作为数据库,根据停堆时间、事故的发生时间与实际监测值来评估乏池中燃料的损伤份额,实现了对乏池中不同类型燃料的损伤程度的差异化评估。本文方法已应用于秦山二期的乏燃料损伤评价系统中。     

Problems and Experience in Guaranteeing the Nuclear Safety of the Storage of Spent Fuel from Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear-safety problems are examined and the results of investigations of nuclear safety of storage sites are presented for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants. The initial events of anticipated and unanticipated accidents, methods and errors in the calculation of k _eff taking account of burnup to ensure nuclear safety, the possibility of measuring k _eff of storage sites experimentally, and new forms of fuel with a consummable absorber are calculated.     

Mobile system for the management of fuel assemblies from research reactors

Interim storage in transport and storage casks of the CASTOR type, and later the final storage of these casks are planned for the management of spent fuel assemblies from German research reactors.A mobile transfer unit is used for loading the casks with fuel assemblies on the reactor sites. Key components of the mobile transfer unit are a transfer cask, the recharging lock, and an air-cushion transport system. By means of the air-cushion transport system, the whole equipment, as well as the CASTOR casks, is transported into the reactor building. Thus, handling of the 16 t CASTOR casks is possible even on reactor sites within sufficient crane capacity. A 20 ft container accommodates the mobile transfer unit and all accessories so that the whole equipment can be transported to the reactor sites by truck.     

Analysis of the processes in spent fuel pools of Ignalina NPP in case of loss of heat removal

Ignalina NPP is the only nuclear power plant in Lithuania consisting of two units, commissioned in 1983 and 1987. Unit 1 of Ignalina NPP was shutdown for decommissioning at the end of 2004 and Unit 2 is to be operated until the end of 2009. Both units are equipped with channel-type graphite-moderated boiling water reactors RBMK-1500. According to the design, the spent fuel should be returned for reprocessing to Russia. However actually any fuel assembly has not been taken out from territory of the Ignalina NPP and all assemblies of spent fuel are stored in the spent fuel pools and dry on-site storage facility. Thus, the safety justification of facilities for intermediate spent fuel assemblies’ storage in Ignalina NPP is very important. This paper presents the results of loss of heat removal accidents (the most probable beyond design basis accident) in spent fuel pools of Ignalina NPP. The analysis was performed by employing best-estimate system thermal hydraulic code RELAP5 and codes for severe accidents ATHLET-CD and ASTEC. The best-estimate analysis, performed using RELAP5, allowed to investigate in the details the water evaporation, uncovering and fuel assemblies heat-up processes, when heat removal from the structures of buildings and pools are evaluated. The processes of spent fuel assemblies’ degradation due to loss of long-term heat removal were analyzed using ATHLET-CD and ASTEC codes. The results of calculations showed that the increase in water temperature in the pools from 50 °C up to 100 °C takes approximately 80-110 h, the evaporation of water volume down to uncovering of fuel assemblies takes approximately 220-260 additional hours. Later, after 200-300 h, the temperature of fuel claddings exceeds 800-1000 °C and the failures of fuel claddings occur due to cladding ballooning. The total amount of hydrogen generated up to time of complete water evaporation from spent fuel pools is about 7500-16,000 kg. These results of performed analysis were used for development of accident management guidelines for spent fuel pools of RBMK-1500.     

小型自然循环钠冷堆堆芯初步设计研究

提出了一种适用于分布式发电系统的小型自然循环钠冷堆AMTEC系统。通过对堆芯的临界计算和热工水力分析,研究了堆芯燃料装载量不变情况下,芯块半径、燃料棒长度和圈数对堆芯有效增殖因数k_eff、堆芯压降和传热的影响。同时分析了不同额外停堆裕量下,B₄C吸收层厚度和堆芯初始剩余反应性随燃料棒圈数的变化关系。计算结果表明：保持堆芯当量直径和冷却剂通道总截面积不变的情况下,减少燃料棒圈数和活性区长度不仅可增加k_eff,且能降低堆芯压降;为提高额外停堆裕量需增加吸收层厚度,但降低了堆芯初始剩余反应性,不利于电厂的经济性。     

Self-Limiting Power Excursion Characteristics of Light Water Reactor, (I)

The Doppler limited power excursion characteristics of a light water reactor and the shutdown mechanism by scram were analyzed on the Hitachi Training Reactor (HTR). For the purpose of the pulse operation tests, modifications were applied to the HTR to provide pulsing capability; a pulse rod was added, together with a back up device for shutdown, and provision of three instrumented fuel assemblies, equipped with thermocouples; the Al-clad fuel rods were replaced by stainless steel clad rods.

About 100 runs of pulse operation tests were performed in fullest security with reactivity insertions ranging up to 1.0 % Δk/k, in which last case the peak power reached 38 MW, with a reactor period of 29 msec.     

兆瓦级空间气冷堆系统启停堆瞬态分析

本文针对兆瓦级高温气冷堆布雷顿循环系统,采用Fortran语言开发系统分析程序TASS,包括堆芯、透平-发电机-压气机、回热器、冷却器和热管式辐射散热器等模型。通过设计值与程序计算值对比对TASS进行验证,并利用TASS对系统启动、停堆瞬态工况进行数值模拟。结果显示,通过分两阶段、阶梯式引入正反应性和提高涡轮机械的转轴速度,堆芯流量和功率匹配良好,系统可在3.5 h内完成启动过程,达到反应堆功率3 406 kW、流量14.2 kg/s的稳态运行。系统停堆过程中,反应堆可依靠自身的非能动余热排出能力,确保芯块和包壳温度与熔点间存在较大安全裕量,实现安全停堆。     

Analyzing the alternative shutdown cooling behaviors for Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant using CFD simulation

The Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant (CSNPP) is a GE-designed BWR4 plant, having two identical units with rated core thermal power of 1804 MWt each unit. Several alternative shutdown cooling methods driven by natural or mixed convection has been proposed by the plant for studying the core cooling capability when the Residual Heat Removal (RHR) systems are not available or the refueling tasks, such as the In Vessel Visual Inspection (IVVI) work etc., is being proceeded. One of the examples is to connect a pipe from the outlet of the new spent fuel heat exchanger to the reactor cavity. The design of the alternatives shall ensure that the maximum core fluid temperature is limited below the boiling temperature of water. In this study, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is developed to analyze the natural convection phenomena during the shutdown period. Through a series of assumption, modeling and meshing processes, a calculation domain with approximate four million meshes including the RPV, reactor cavity and spent fuel pool, have been solved in this study. The analysis results showed that the passive alternative shutdown cooling system could provide sufficient heat removal capability to maintain the maximum core fluid temperature below boiling temperature. The results also indicated that the alternative shutdown cooling system could be served as an appropriate solution for CSNPP when the RHR is inoperable.     

Safety characteristics of the multipurpose fast reactor (MPFR)

The safety characteristics of a long-life multipurpose nuclear reactor (MPFR) with self-sustained liquid metallic fuel and lead coolant, which is proposed to meet the requirements for the energy production in the future, were investigated. The application of liquid plutonium–uranium metallic alloys used as a nuclear fuel demonstrated high potential to reach excellent reactor shutdown characteristics against anticipated transients without scram such as unprotected loss-of-flow and unprotected transient overpower. The calculations indicated that the thermal expansion of liquid fuels would cause the negative reactivity insertion that would be larger in magnitude than any other thermally induced reactivity changes. This created the reactivity balance for the passive shutdown and power stabilization capabilities of the MPFR core. It was found that MPFR satisfies such design characteristics to be a potential candidate providing the replacement of fossil fuels by alternative energy sources in the next century.