A study on the core loading pattern of the VVER-1200/V491

Abstract

The VVER-1200/V491 was a selected candidate for the Ninh Thuan I Nuclear Power Plant.However, in the Feasibility Study Safety Analysis Report (FS-SAR) of the VVER-1200/V491, the core loading pattern of this reactor was not provided. To assess the safety features of the VVER- 1200/V491, finding the core loading patterns and verifying their safety characteristics are necessary. In this study, two core loading patterns of the VVER-1200/V491 were suggested. The first loading pattern was applied from the VVER-1000/V446 and the second was searched by core loading optimization program LPO-V. The calculations for power distribution, the effective multiplication factor (k-eff), and fuel burn-up were then calculated by SRAC code. To verify several safety parameters of loading patterns of the VVER-1200/V491, the neutron delayed fraction (DNF), fuel andmoderator temperature feedbacks (FTC and MTC) were investigated and compared with the safety standards in the VVER-1200/V491 FS-SAR or the VVER-1000/V392 ISAR.