Optimization of Fuel Storage in Spent Fuel Pool

Author(s):  
Xinyu Wang ◽  
Richard Cable Kurwitz ◽  
Zhijian Zhang

This paper is the optimization of fuel assembly placement in the spent fuel pool according to the categorized rules. Only some specifically reactivity class assemblies could put together as the pattern. The allowable patterns, the number of the fuel assembly for each reactivity class and the number of RCCAs are from the nuclear power plant technique specification. Each assembly in the pool should obey the pattern rules and the user needs the optimal spent fuel pool configuration that could maximize the free space. In this study, the genetic algorithm and greedy algorithm are discussed, and both of two algorithms have the difficulties to the real engineering problem. A new approach that improves the greedy strategy at each step is proposed, make the greedy algorithm is more adapted to the engineering problem. Use the new approach to test Seabrook Unit 1 and Arkansas Unit 2 spent fuel pool at different cases, and show results by the visible figures. The output arrangements by the program shown that the results are satisfied the user requirements.

Author(s):  
Akihisa Iwasaki ◽  
Yoshitsugu Nekomoto ◽  
Hideyuki Morita ◽  
Katsuhiko Taniguchi ◽  
Daisaku Okuno ◽  
...  

The spent fuel storage rack of a nuclear plant stores the spent fuel temporarily before it can be moved to a reprocessing facility. Therefore, the spent fuel storage rack must have a high tolerance against large seismic loads. So, the free standing rack is developed in Japan as other countries. The free standing rack structure incorporates the effect of the friction force on the spent fuel pool floor, and the fluid effect. Under earthquake condition, the free standing rack sliding and rocking motions are induced and the spent fuels rattle in the cells. In this paper, sliding and rocking motions of full-scale rack model having full loading fuel assembly subjected to the seismic excitation are studied. To develop an analysis evaluation method for rack motions, we carried out seismic test of a full-scale rack model using a shaking table, and obtained the fundamental data about the free standing rack.


Author(s):  
Matthias Reuter ◽  
Leo Ornot ◽  
Torsten Maier ◽  
Thomas Fuchs ◽  
Kerstin Gauter ◽  
...  

After the Fukushima accident the development and implementation of additional safety features has become more and more important. In March 2014 AREVA filed a patent for the invention of a mobile heat exchanger module in the outer shape similar to the outer geometry of a fuel assembly called Advanced Cooling Tube (ACT) [1]. Since January 2015 there is a full scale test facility in the German headquarters of AREVA in Erlangen to test the performance of such a mobile heat exchanger. In spring 2015 there were investigations running to implement the ACT into the spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant in Switzerland. In the meantime, these investigations were finished and a contract has been signed. This paper gives an overview about the main facts of the Advanced Cooling Tube as a mobile heat exchanger in the shape of a fuel assembly for spent fuel pools, how it can be implemented in any nuclear power station and what the advantages of this product are. Further information about the performance and requirements of this special heat exchanger will be given.


Author(s):  
Zhixin Xu ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Binyan Song ◽  
WenYu Hou ◽  
Chao Wang

The Fukushima nuclear disaster has raised the importance on the reliability and risk research of the spent fuel pool (SFP), including the risk of internal events, fire, external hazards and so on. From a safety point of view, the low decay heat of the spent fuel assemblies and large water inventory in the SFP has made the accident progress goes very slow, but a large number of fuel assemblies are stored inside the spent fuel pool and without containment above the SFP building, it still has an unignored risk to the safety of the nuclear power plant. In this paper, a standardized approach for performing a holistic and comprehensive evaluation approach of the SFP risk based on the probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) method has been developed, including the Level 1 SFP PSA and Level 2 SFP PSA and external hazard PSA. The research scope of SFP PSA covers internal events, internal flooding, internal fires, external hazards and new risk source-fuel route risk is also included. The research will provide the risk insight of Spent Fuel Pool operation, and can help to make recommendation for the prevention and mitigation of SFP accidents which will be applicable for the SFP configuration risk management.


Author(s):  
Daogang Lu ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Shu Zheng

Free standing spent fuel storage racks are submerged in water contained with spent fuel pool. During a postulated earthquake, the water surrounding the racks is accelerated and the so-called fluid-structure interaction (FSI) is significantly induced between water, racks and the pool walls[1]. The added mass is an important input parameter for the dynamic structural analysis of the spent fuel storage rack under earthquake[2]. The spent fuel storage rack is different even for the same vendors. Some rack are designed as the honeycomb construction, others are designed as the end-tube-connection construction. Therefore, the added mass for those racks have to be measured for the new rack’s design. More importantly, the added mass is influenced by the layout of the rack in the spent fuel pool. In this paper, an experiment is carried out to measure the added mass by free vibration test. The measured fluid force of the rack is analyzed by Fourier analysis to derive its vibration frequency. The added mass is then evaluated by the vibration frequency in the air and water. Moreover, a two dimensional CFD model of the spent fuel rack immersed in the water tank is built. The fluid force is obtained by a transient analysis with the help of dynamics mesh method.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. e0205228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosane Silva ◽  
Darcy Muniz de Almeida ◽  
Bianca Catarina Azeredo Cabral ◽  
Victor Hugo Giordano Dias ◽  
Isadora Cristina de Toledo e Mello ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
David A. Hakobyan ◽  
Victor I. Slobodchuk

The problems of reprocessing and long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) at nuclear power plants with RBMK reactors have not been fully resolved so far. For this reason, nuclear power plants are forced to search for new options for the disposal of spent fuel, which can provide at least temporary SNF storage. One of the possible solutions to this problem is to switch to compacted SNF storage in reactor spent fuel pools (SFPs). As the number of spent fuel assemblies (SFAs) in SFPs increases, a greater amount of heat is released. In addition, no less important is the fact that a place for emergency FA discharging should be provided in SFPs. The paper presents the results of a numerical simulation of the temperature conditions in SFPs both for compacted SNF storage and for emergency FA discharging. Several types of disturbances in normal SFP cooling mode are considered, including partial loss of cooling water and exposure of SFAs. The simulation was performed using the ANSYS CFX software tool. Estimates were made of the time for heating water to the boiling point, as well as the time for heating the cladding of the fuel elements to a temperature of 650 °С. The most critical conditions are observed in the emergency FA discharging compartment. The results obtained make it possible to estimate the time that the personnel have to restore normal cooling mode of the spent fuel pool until the maximum temperature for water and spent fuel assemblies is reached.


2013 ◽  
Vol 479-480 ◽  
pp. 543-547
Author(s):  
Jong Rong Wang ◽  
Hao Tzu Lin ◽  
Wan Yun Li ◽  
Shao Wen Chen ◽  
Chun Kuan Shih

In the nuclear power plant (NPP) safety, the safety analysis of the NPP is very important work. In Fukushima NPP event, due to the earthquake and tsunami, the cooling system of the spent fuel pool failed and the safety issue of the spent fuel pool generated. In this study, the safety analysis of the Chinshan NPP spent fuel pool was performed by using TRACE and FRAPTRAN, which also assumed the cooling system of the spent fuel pool failed. There are two cases considered in this study. Case 1 is the no fire water injection in the spent fuel pool. Case 2 is the fire water injection while the water level of the spent fuel pool uncover the length of fuel rods over 1/3 full length. The analysis results of the case 1 show that the failure of cladding occurs in about 3.6 day. However, the results of case 2 indicate that the integrity of cladding is kept after the fire water injection.


Author(s):  
Liming Huang ◽  
Shouhai Yang ◽  
Jie Liu

Radiation safety is an important part of safety assessment of spent fuel dry storage technology. This paper describes the radiation protection design of PWR spent fuel dry storage facility for radiation safety completed by China General Nuclear Power Corporation. Considering the special site conditions, Monte Carlo method is used to complete the precise calculation of the three-dimensional radiation dose field in the spent fuel storage building. Through the spent fuel storage module and the storage building with shielding function, radiation shielding design is completed to meet China’s regulatory requirements, which ensures radiation safety for workers and the public during the transport and storage of spent fuel. It will provide a reference for construction of spent fuel dry storage facility of CPR1000 and HPR1000.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
You Shi ◽  
Dong Ning ◽  
Yi-zhong Yang

Boron carbide (B4C) particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composite is the key material for use as neutron absorber plate in fuel storage applications for Generation III advanced passive nuclear power plants in China. This material has once depended upon importing with various restrictions so that it has meaningful practical significance to realize the localized manufacturing for this material in China. More importantly, since it is the first time for this material to be used in domestic plant, particular care should be taken to assure the formal supplied products exhibit high stabilized and reliable service in domestic nuclear engineering. This paper initiates and proposes a principle design framework from technical view in qualification requirements for this material so as to guide the practical engineering application. Aiming at neutron absorber materials supplied under practical manufacturing condition in engineering delivery, the qualification requirements define B4C content, matrix chemistry, 10B isotope, bulk density, 10B areal density, mechanical property, and microstructure as key criteria for material performance. The uniformity assessment as to different locations of this material is also required from at least three lots of material. Only qualified material meeting all of the qualification requirements should proceed to be verified by lifetime testing such as irradiation, corrosion, and thermal aging testing. Systematic and comprehensive performance assessments and verification for process stabilization could be achieved through the above qualification. The long-term service for this neutron absorber material in reliable and safe way could be convincingly expected in spent fuel storage application in China.


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