A simulation model of the fuel handling system in a nuclear reactor

• Published in: Computers & industrial engineering Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 117 - 135
• Main Authors: Houshyar, Azim, Imel, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Elsevier Ltd 1996; Oxford Pergamon Press; New York, NY Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; BREEDER REACTORS; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear reactors; REACTORS; SCHEDULES; SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS; SIMULATION; SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; STORAGE; Studies; Computer simulation; Fast breeder; Nuclear fuel; Mathematical model; Performance; Irradiated nuclear fuel; Handling; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0360-8352; 1879-0550
• DOI: 10.1016/0360-8352(95)00023-2

This article demonstrates the outcome of a study of the fuel handling system in the experimental breeder reactor (EBR-II). In this article, a mathematical model of the fuel handling system is described which predicts the system's performance under different fuel handling scenarios. In particular, the following two scenarios are studied: (a) a feasible fuel handling schedule to unload 330 blanket S/A in a period of 3 yr with minimal interruption to the normal operation of the reactor; and (b) a feasible fuel handling schedule to shut down and unload the reactor and the storage tank. In addition, the interactions between different sub-systems are highlighted and the results of different sensitivity analysis, performed to scrutinize the system's capability under different constraining procedures are reviewed.