Depletion Analysis of the Nigerian Research Reactor Fuel with 19.75% Enriched UO2 Material

Abstract

The depletion analysis of the Nigerian research reactor fuel with 19.75% enriched UO2 have been performed using the VENTURE PC code. The matrix exponential method was selected in this work to perform the depletion analysis. The volume fraction of the materials in this mixture was calculated and multiplied by their respective atom densities to obtain the effective atom density of the nuclide in the water, Aluminium mix region of the fuel cell model. The plot of the variation of k infinity versus hydrogen to Uranium ratio was generated using Matlab programming language for processing of the computer code result. This shows that as the ratio of hydrogen to uranium in the core of the reactor is increased, the reactivity also increases by gradually increasing the fuel cell radii till it gets to the peak of 0.6193. Any further increment in the radius of the fuel cell radii, the reactivity of the reactor decreases as the hydrogen to uranium ratio increases.

Estimation of Fuel Burnup Rate for Core Conversion for the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) Fueled With 19.75% Enriched UO2 USING VENTURE PC Code

“…The dominant role played by nuclear fission reactors within the generation of electric power are often expected to continue well into the subsequent century. Nuclear energy can represent the sole viable alternative to fissile fueled plants for many nations [3].…”

“…It has been quite some decades since the primary nuclear reactor achieved an essential fission chain reaction. Since then, an in depth worldwide effort has been directed towards nuclear reactor analysis and development in an effort to harness the large energy contained inside the atomic nucleus for peaceful application [3].…”

“…Fuel burnup analysis deals with predicting the long-run changes in reactor fuel composition caused by exposure to neutron flux throughout reactor operation. Such changes have a very important bearing on the operating lifetime of a reactor, likewise as on its stability and management [3].…”

“…This results obtained showed that uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) fuel is a potential material for future Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) core conversion of Nigeria Research Reactor. Rabba et al; PSIJ, 24(2): 42-49, 2020; Article no.PSIJ.55838 43…”