Reduction of the erbium content in RBMK-1000 fuel

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a calculation study connected with the composition of RBMK-1000 fuel having a reduced erbium content. The computational studies were carried out using SADCO software systems (developed by JSC “NIKIET”) and MCU-RBMK (developed by NRC “Kurchatov Institute”). The studies include calculations of a fuel cell with various compositions of uranium-erbium fuel and a RBMK-1000 reactor under fuel-loading conditions involving a reduced erbium content. The conversion of RBMK-1000 to a fuel having a reduced erbium content ensures the neutron-physical characteristics and volumes of accumulating commercial ⁶⁰Co to be maintained within operational limits under conditions of extending the reactor service life for more than 50 years.