Pages: 16-21

Authors: Boris R. Bergelson, Alexander S. Gerasimov, Georgy V. Tikhomirov

Abstract

This paper presents the results of calculations for CANDU reactor operation in the thorium fuel cycle. The calculations were performed to estimate feasibility of operation of a heavy-water thermal neutron power reactor in the self-sufficient thorium cycle. The parameters of the active core and the scheme of fuel reloading were considered to be the same as for the standard operation in the uranium cycle.
Two modes of operation are discussed in the paper: the mode of preliminary accumulation of ²³³U and the mode of operation in the self-sufficient cycle. For calculations for the mode of accumulation of ²³³U, it was assumed that plutonium was used as the additional fissile material to provide neutrons for ²³³U production. Plutonium was placed in fuel channels, while ²³²Th was located in target channels. The maximum content of ²³³U in the target channels was about 13 kg/t of ThO₂. This was achieved by six year irradiation. The start of reactor operation in the self-sufficient mode requires content of ²³³U not less than 12 kg/t. For the mode of operation in the self-sufficient cycle, it was assumed that all the channels were loaded with the identical fuel assemblies containing ThO₂ and a certain amount of ²³³U. It was shown that the non-uniform distribution of ²³³U in a fuel assembly is preferable.

Key words: thorium fuel cycle, CANDU reactor, reactor operation

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