Ce travail contribue aux efforts de l'Union Européenne pour réduire les émissions de CO2. Son objectif est d'aider les industries produisant de la chaleur fatale à récupérer cette énergie perdue, d'augmenter sa température et de la réutiliser in situ. Les transformateurs de chaleur (Absorption Heat Transformers ou AHT), machines à absorption consommant très peu d'électricité, sont alors ici étudiés. Les AHTs existants rencontrent des problèmes comme la corrosion, la cristallisation, la toxicité et les niveaux de pression éloignés de la pression atmosphérique. Ceux-ci sont causés par les fluides conventionnels (Eau/LiBr et Ammoniaque/Eau) et s'aggravent à des températures supérieures à 120°C. Des modèles de conception ainsi que des solutions techniques, applicables avec tous mélanges de fluides organiques, sont alors proposés dans cette thèse. Ces modèles sont validés avec des données de la littérature et implémentés dans des outils d'aide à la décision.Tout d'abord, un modèle de sélection de paires de fluides organiques (parmi une liste de fluides) est développé. Les contraintes prises en compte sont, entre autres, les types et les profils de températures des sources et puits de chaleur, et les propriétés du fluide. Pour chaque type de fluide, la méthode la plus adaptée au calcul des propriétés physiques des fluides est choisie.En second lieu, pour effectuer la séparation des 2 constituants du mélange de fluides organiques, le générateur (composant recevant la chaleur fatale) et le condenseur de l'AHT sont fusionnés pour former une colonne de distillation. Un modèle d'une colonne de distillation nommée « hybride » est alors développé en adaptant la méthode de Ponchon-Savarit et en la combinant avec la méthode ETD (Equal Thermodynamic Distance). Cette colonne associe les avantages des 2 types de colonnes adiabatiques et diabatiques. Elle allie réduction de production d'entropie et meilleure exploitation des sources de chaleur à températures glissantes. La conception mécanique de la colonne hybride est aussi incluse.Troisièmement, pour atteindre la température théorique maximale du mélange de fluide déjà choisi, l'absorbeur de l'AHT (où la chaleur à haute température est libérée) est divisé en sections adiabatiques suivies par des sections diabatiques. De plus, les modèles détaillés des colonnes à bulles (fonctionnant en co-courant ou en contre-courant) ainsi que de la colonne à garnissage sont présentés et comparés entre eux.Les principaux résultats de ces travaux consistent en une nouvelle méthodologie de choix de fluides organiques pouvant remplacer les mélanges classiques surtout à températures élevées (supérieures à 130 °C). En ce qui concerne la colonne de distillation, il est montré que la colonne adiabatique constitue un meilleur choix lorsqu'une source de chaleur latente est disponible tandis qu'avec une source de chaleur sensible, la colonne hybride engendre moins de pertes exergétiques. En passant à l'absorbeur, le nouveau mode d'opération de celui-ci permet à l'utilisateur d'atteindre des températures plus élevées que celles réalisées avec les technologies actuellement disponibles. Enfin, les modèles développés permettent de choisir les technologies de distillation (adiabatique, diabatique ou hybride) et d'absorption (colonne à bulles ou à garnissage) les plus appropriées en s'adaptant à différentes problématiques industrielles. / This work is part of the European union efforts to reduce its CO2 emissions. It aims to assist any waste heat producing industry in recuperating this lost thermal energy, pumping it to higher temperature levels and reusing it on site. Absorption Heat Transformers (AHT), that consume little electricity, are used for this task. Current AHT problems such as corrosion, crystallization, toxicity and inconvenient pressure levels are caused by conventionally used H2O/LiBr and NH3/ H2O working fluids and get worse at temperatures exceeding 120°C. Potential solutions are thus suggested. According to them, models are developed; they are all able to operate with any organic mixture and are customized to accompany the industrialist from start to finish. These solutions were validated by comparing them with literature data and are implemented into several tools.Firstly, a model selects the optimal organic binary mixture -among a list of fluids- in terms of the real case application's constraints: Heat transfer fluids used, Heat source's and heat sink's types and temperature profiles, mixtures transport properties among other parameters. Suitable thermodynamic model is selected for different fluid group types.Secondly, in order to separate the 2 components of the chosen mixture of organic compounds, the AHT generator (component which receives waste heat) is merged with the AHT condenser thus forming a distillation column. A “hybrid column” is designed by modifying the Ponchon-Savarit method and combining it with the Equal Thermodynamic Distance (ETD) method. This new column associates the best features of the two columns. It reduces entropy production rates and best exploits temperature gliding heat sources. Mechanical design for the hybrid column is also included.Thirdly, to ensure that the maximum theoretical temperature of the working fluid is reached, the AHT absorber (where high temperature heat is released) is divided into consecutive adiabatic parts followed by diabatic ones. Detailed Models for co-current and counter-current bubble columns as well as packing columns are presented and compared.Main results consist in a selection methodology of organic compounds mixtures, capable of replacing conventional ones specially at temperatures higher than 130 °C. It's also shown that adiabatic columns are better options when latent type heat sources are available while hybrid columns lose less exergy when used with sensible heat sources. As for the absorber, the new operating mode provides the user with higher temperatures than currently reached by available technologies. Finally, using the developed models, tailored and most suitable distillation (adiabatic, diabatic or hybrid columns) and absorber (bubble or packing columns) technologies can be proposed depending on the industrial specific cases and requirements.

Solar thermal energy is emerging as an important source of renewable energy for meeting the ever-increasing energy requirements of the world. Solar selective coatings are known to enhance the efficiency of the photo thermal energy conversion. An ideal solar selective coating has zero reflectance in the solar spectrum region (i.e., 0.3-2.5 µm) and 100% reflectance in the infrared (IR) region (i.e. 2.5-50 µm). In this thesis, novel carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene based absorbers have been developed for photo thermal applications. Carbon nanotubes have good optical properties (i.e., α and ε close to 1), high aspect ratios (> 150), high surface area (470 m2/g) and high thermal conductivity (> 3000 W/mK), which enable rapid heat transfer from the CNTs to the substrates. Similarly, graphene also exhibits high transmittance (97%), low reflectance, high thermal conductivity (5000 W/mK) and high oxidation resistance behaviour. The major drawback of using CNTs for photothermal applications is that it exhibits poor spectral selectivity (i.e., α/ε = 1). In other words, it acts as a blackbody absorber. On the other hand, graphene exhibits poor intrinsic absorption behaviour (α - 2.3%) in a broad wavelength range (UV-Near IR). The main objective of the present study is to develop CNT and graphene based absorbers for photothermal conversion applications. The growth of CNT and graphene was carried out using chemical vapour deposition and sputtering techniques. An absorber-reflector tandem concept was used to develop the CNT based tandem absorber (Ti/Al2O3/Co/CNT). The transition from blackbody absorber to solar selective absorber was achieved by varying the CNT thicknesses and by using a suitable underlying absorber (Ti/Al2O3). A simple multilayer heat mirror concept was used to develop the graphene based multilayer absorber (SiO2/graphene/Cu/graphene). The transition from high transmitance to high absorptance was achieved by varying the Cu thickness. The refractive indices and the extinction coefficients of Ti/Al2O3, AlTiO and graphene samples were determined by the phase-modulated spectroscopic ellipsometric technique. Finally, the optical properties (i.e., absorptance and the emittance) of the CNT and graphene based absorbers were investigated. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction about solar thermal energy, spectrally selective coating and photothermal conversion. The different types of absorbers used to achieve the spectral selectivity have also been discussed shortly. A brief description about the carbon-based materials/allotropes and their properties are outlined. The properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene which are the 1-D and 2-D allotropes of carbon, respectively are tabulated. A detailed literature survey was carried out in order to identify the potential candidates for the photothermal conversion applications. The objectives and the scope of the thesis are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter 2 discusses the deposition and characterization techniques used for the growth and the study of 1-D and 2-D carbon nanostructures. Atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and hot filament CVD techniques were used to grow CNT and graphene, respectively. The magnetron sputtering technique was used for the growth of ‘Ti’, ‘Al2O3’ and Co layers which were needed to grow the CNT based tandem absorber on stainless steel (SS) substrates. The important characterization techniques used to examine various properties of the 1-D and 2-D carbon nanostructures include: X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), phase modulated ellipsometry, UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer, Fourier-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy and solar spectrum reflectometer and emissometer. Chapter 3 describes the design and development of Ti/Al2O3 coating for the growth of CNT-based tandem absorber on SS substrates. The power densities of the aluminum and titanium targets and the oxygen flow rates were optimized to deposit the Ti/Al2O3 coatings. The optimized Ti/Al2O3 coating with a Co catalyst on top was used as an underlying substrate to grow the CNT-based tandem absorber at 800°C in Ar+H2 atmosphere (i.e., CNT/Co/Al2O3/Ti/SS). The formation of aluminum titanium oxide (AlTiO) was observed during the CNT growth process and this layer enhances the optical properties of the CNT based tandem absorber. The optical constants of Ti, Al2O3 and AlTiO coatings were measured using phase modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wavelength range of 300-900 nm. The experimentally measured ellipsometric parameters have been fitted with the simulated spectra using the Tauc-Lorentz model for generating the dispersion of the optical constants of the Al2O3 and the AlTiO layers. The Ti and Al2O3 layer thicknesses play a major role in the design of the CNT based tandem absorber with good optical properties. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis and characterization of the CNT based tandem absorber (Ti/AlTiO/CoO/CNTs) deposited on SS substrates. CNTs at different thicknesses were grown on Ti/AlTiO/CoO coated SS substrates using atmospheric CVD at various growth durations. The transition from blackbody absorber to solar selective absorber was achieved by varying the thicknesses of the CNTs and by suitably designing the bottom tandem absorber. At thicknesses > 10 µm, the CNT forest acts as near-perfect blackbody absorber, whereas, at thicknesses ≤ 0.36 µm, the IR reflectance of the coating increases (i.e., ε = 0.20) with slight decrease in the absorptance (i.e., α = 0.95). A spectral selectivity (α/ε) of 4.75 has been achieved for the 0.36 µm-thick CNTs grown on SS/Ti/AlTiO/CoO tandem absorber. Chapter 5 discusses the growth of graphene on polycrystalline copper (Cu) foils (1 cm × 1 cm) using hot filament CVD. The roles of the process parameters such as gas flow rates (methane and hydrogen), growth temperatures (filament and substrate) and durations on the growth of graphene were studied. The process parameters were also optimized to grow monolayer, bilayer and multilayer graphene in a controlled manner and the growth mechanism was deduced from the experimental results. The presence of graphene on Cu foils was confirmed using XPS, micro-Raman spectroscopy, FESEM and TEM techniques. The FESEM data clearly confirmed that graphene starts nucleating as hexagonal islands which later evolves into dendritic lobe shaped islands with an increase in the supersaturation. The TEM data substantiated further the growth of monolayer, bilayer and multilayer graphene. The intensity of 2D and G peak ratio (i.e., I2D/IG = 2) confirmed the presence of the monolayer graphene and the absence of the ‘D’ peak in the Raman spectrum indicated the high purity of graphene grown on Cu foils. The results show that the polycrystalline morphology of the copper foil has negligible effect on the growth of monolayer graphene. In Chapter 6, the design and development of graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber and the study of its optical properties are discussed. The multilayer graphene grown on Cu foils has been transferred on quartz and SiO2 substrates in order to fabricate the graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber. The sputtering technique was used to deposit copper on top of graphene/quartz substrates. The uniformity of the transferred multilayer graphene films was confirmed using Raman mapping. A simple multilayer heat mirror concept was used to develop the graphene/Cu/graphene absorber on quartz substrates and the transition from high transmittance to high absorptance was achieved. In order to further enhance the absorption, the graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer coating was fabricated on SiO2 substrates. The thickness of the Cu layer plays a major role in creating destructive interference, which results in high absorptance and low emittance. A high specular absorptance of 0.91 and emittance of 0.22 was achieved for the SiO2 graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber. The specular reflectance of the multilayer absorber coatings was measured using the universal reflectance accessory of the UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. Chapter 7 summarizes the major findings of the present investigation and also suggests future aspects for experimentation and analysis. The results obtained from the present work clearly indicate that both CNT and graphene based absorbers can be used as potential candidates for photothermal applications. In particular, the CNT based tandem absorber can be used for high temperature solar thermal applications and the graphene based multilayer absorber finds applications in the area of photodetectors and optical broadband modulators.

Le carbure de bore B4C est une céramique couramment utilisée comme absorbant neutronique pour la régulation de la puissance des réacteurs nucléaires. Les réactions d’absorption neutronique, de type (n,α) sur l’isotope bore-10, conduisent à la production de grandes quantités d’hélium (jusqu’à 1022.cm-3). Il en résulte du gonflement induit par la formation de bulles hautement pressurisées, puis de la microfissuration. L’analyse de la littérature montre que les mécanismes de diffusion de l’hélium et les premières étapes de la formation des bulles sont mal connus. L’objectif de notre étude est d’étudier le comportement de l’hélium dans le carbure de bore, en réalisant une analyse paramétrique. Pour cela, des échantillons de B4C fritté à partir de différentes poudres ont été implantés en hélium dans des accélérateurs d’ions à différentes concentrations et températures, ce afin de simuler l’hélium produit en réacteur. Les analyses se sont ensuite principalement appuyées sur deux techniques de caractérisation : L’analyse par réactions nucléaires ou NRA (Nuclear Reaction Analysis) qui est une technique d’analyse par faisceau d’ions. La réaction 3He(d,4He)1H utilisée permet d’obtenir des profils d’hélium dans le matériau. La Microscope Electronique en Transmission (MET) qui permet d’observer les amas potentiels d’hélium dans le matériau. Nous avons tout d’abord mis en évidence l’influence de la concentration d’hélium implanté : plus elle est élevée, plus la densité d’amas dans la zone implantée est élevée ; puis celle de de la température d’implantation : plus cette dernière est élevée, plus la température seuil de germination des amas est élevée et leur densité réduite. Nous en avons déduit que ces différences étaient dues à l’influence de l’endommagement résiduel, plus faible à haute température. Des doubles implantations d’or et d’hélium ont confirmé que l’endommagement créé par les ions Au avait un effet significatif sur la germination des amas, en abaissant le seuil de température de leur apparition et en augmentant leur densité. Ensuite, nous avons mis en évidence le rôle des joints de grains qui se sont révélés être de véritables pièges pour hélium. Nous avons démontré que l’hélium ne diffuse pas dans ni à travers ces joints de grains jusqu’à des températures de l’ordre de 1200°C. Enfin, l’élargissement des profils d’hélium après traitements thermiques, dans la gamme de température 600-800°C, a permis de déterminer un coefficient de diffusion apparent de l’hélium dans le B4C, paramètre inconnu dans la littérature, ainsi qu’une énergie d’activation : D = D0.exp(-Ea/kT), avec D0 = 6,03x10- 3 x/ 2,5 cm2.s-1 et Ea = 2,03 ±0,18 eV. L’ensemble de ce travail a permis de mieux appréhender le comportement de l’hélium dans le carbure de bore qui sera utilisé dans les dispositifs de contrôle de la puissance et les protections neutroniques du réacteur ASTRID, projet français de réacteur à spectre neutronique rapide refroidi au sodium. Les résultats obtenus permettent ainsi de tirer des indications utiles à la conception des éléments absorbants neutroniques du réacteur / Boron carbide B4C is a ceramic commonly used as a neutron absorber to control the power of nuclear power plants. The neutron absorption reactions, (n,α) type on the boron-10 isotope, lead to the production of large quantities of helium (up to 1022.cm-3). This results to swelling induced by the formation of highly pressurized bubbles, followed by microcracking. Analysis of the literature shows that helium diffusion mechanisms and the early stages of bubble formation are poorly understood. The goal of our work is to study the behaviour of helium in boron carbide, by carrying out a parametric analysis. For this purpose, samples of B4C, sintered from different powders, were implanted in helium with ion accelerators at different concentrations and temperatures, in order to simulate the helium produced in the reactor. The analyses were then mainly based on two characterization techniques: Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA), which is an ion beam analysis technique. The 3He(d,4He)1H reaction used allows obtaining helium profiles in the material. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), which allows observation of potential helium clusters in the material. We first demonstrated the influence of the concentration of implanted helium: the higher it is, the higher the density of clusters in the implanted area; then the influence of the implantation temperature: the higher it is, the higher the threshold temperature for cluster nucleation and the lower the density. We have deduced that these differences were due to the influence of the residual damage, which is lower at high temperature. Dual gold and helium implantations confirmed that damage caused by Au ions had a significant effect on cluster nucleation, lowering the temperature threshold of their occurrence and increasing their density. Next, we have highlighted the role of grain boundaries which have proved to be very efficient traps for helium. We have demonstrated that helium does not diffuse into these grain boundaries at temperatures up to 1200°C. Finally, the broadening of the helium profiles after heat treatments, in the temperature range 600-800°C, allowed us to determine an apparent diffusion coefficient of helium in B4C, still unknown in the literature: D = D0.exp (-Ea/kT), with D0 = 6.03x10-3 x/ 2.5 cm2.s-1 and Ea = 2.03 ± 0.18 eV. This work allowed us to better understand the behaviour of helium in boron carbide, which will be used in power control devices and neutron protections for the ASTRID reactor, a French sodium fast-neutron reactor project. The results thus allow obtaining useful indications for the design of the neutron absorber elements of the reactor

La production d’électricité par voie solaire apparait comme la solution la plus prometteuse pour l’avenir, tant en termes de coûts que de pollution. Cependant, afin d’atteindre le niveau de technologie requis pour envisager l’implémentation de telles centrales à grande échelle, plusieurs verrous technologiques et scientifiques sont encore à lever.Dans cette optique, les récepteurs/absorbeurs volumiques pourraient permettre d’atteindre de plus hautes températures que les récepteurs surfaciques (technologie actuellement utilisée dans les tours solaires à concentration), permettant l’usage de cycles thermodynamiques à haute rendement, tels que les cycles Brayton. Via le projet ANR-OPTISOL, la thèse présentée ici veut répondre en partie à ces problématiques par l’étude des absorbeurs solaires volumiques :- Une étude expérimentale des mousses céramiques utilisées comme absorbeur solaire volumique haute température a été menée au laboratoire CNRS-PROMES (UPR 8521). Une expérience a été conçue afin de tester des échantillons de 5cm de diamètre soumis au flux solaire concentré en conditions quasi-1D au foyer d’un four solaire à axe vertical ;- Un code de calcul des transferts thermiques couplés en milieu poreux a été développé utilisant l’hypothèse de « milieu homogène équivalent », puis validé sur les campagnes expérimentales ;- Finalement, un algorithme d’optimisation par essaim de particules a été utilisé afin de déterminer les propriétés géométriques optimales de mousses céramiques maximisant l’efficacité de conversion thermosolaire. / Solar-to-electricity power plants appear to be the most promises way for large electricity production in the future, in terms of costs as well as environmental impacts. Thus, reaching the required technology level still requires research and innovations in order to implement such power plants at large scale.In this context, volumetric solar receivers/absorbers could allow us to reach higher temperatures in comparison to surface receivers (actual concentrating solar power technology used in solar towers), leading to high efficiency thermodynamical cycles such as Brayton cycles. With the ANR-OPTISOL project, this thesis tends to give new answers on volumetric solar absorbers using ceramic foams:- Experimental studies of open pores ceramic foams used as high temperature volumetric solar absorber have been conducted at CNRS-PROMES laboratory (UPR 8521), with designed of a dedicated experiment for 5cm diameter samples operating under quasi-1D conditions submitted to concentrated solar power at the focal point of a vertical axis solar furnace;- A numerical code has been developed in order to solve coupled heat transfers in porous medium using the “equivalent homogeneous medium” hypothesis, then validated on the experimental campaigns;- Finally, an optimization algorithm has been used (“particle swarm optimization”) aiming the identification of the optimal geometrical characteristics maximizing the solar-to-thermal efficiency of ceramic foams.

The master thesis deals with design, manufacturing and testing of a prototype magnetorheological damper developed for Formula Student vehicle. The aim was to design and test the damper with similar damping properties to the vehicle as a conventional damper has. Target force-velocity curves were set using quarter car model and evaluated comparing minimal contact force of a tyre for conventional and newly developed damper characteristics. Structural analysis of designed parts, hydraulic and static magnetic analysis were performed. Manufacturing of a specific part magnetorheological damper part was described – piston. Manufactured prototype damper characteristics were evaluated.

The aim of the master´s thesis is analysis of limits of tail test exercise in practice for certification of dampening quality of wheel hitches of vehicles using virtual simulation. The goal is to create virtual model of front axle of Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDi using program Adams/View, MSC Software and follow-up simulation of tail test of wheel hitch.

The thesis focuses on comparison of the original and the new solutions of cooling water circuit of the York cooling units for the purpose of cooling water flow increase for the absorption units in the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. The individual parts of the cooling units that were changed and modified within a reconstruction are described here. The aim of the work is also to process and compare the original and the new solutions of the cooling units and the cold source station from the available measured data. The data are processed into illustrative graphs and tables. Based on the obtained data we can observe the changes achieved by the reconstruction that have affected the effectiveness of the cooling units.

Truck drivers spend all day moving goods. They are exposed to vibrations every time they drive. Modern cabin suspension and an air-suspended seat already offer a high level of comfort. This, however, is designed for vertical dynamics and you can observe the cab of a truck performs large pitching vibrations during acceleration. These are examined here. A pitch model of the cabin is set up for this purpose. On the basis of this model it is examined which reduction of the vibration can be achieved by the use of a hydraulically translated vibration absorber. The advantage of this absorber is the use of the hydraulic transmission to reduce the heavy mass at high absorber inertia. 4 kg of fluid mass act as 131 kg absorber mass reducing vibrations by more than 10%. The conventional vibration absorber is inacceptable due to the additional load. The investigation based on VDI 2057 Part 1 shows that driving comfort can be increased.

Ultra-thin solar cells that incorporate earth-abundant and non-toxic materials are promising candidates in the endeavor toward sustainable energy harvesting. Methods to counteract the inevitable low absorption of thinner semiconductor layers are of high interest and have raised considerable attention in the research society. In an attempt to increase the absorption of these types of assemblies, optical coupling effects between the localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) of disordered Au nanostructures and a Fabry-Pérot cavity were studied using a previously established absorber/spacer/reflector stack. The disordered Au array was fabricated by evaporating a thin Au film on a substrate with a 55 nm SiO2 dielectric spacer and a 100 nm Al reflecting film, followed by thermal annealing. Nominal Au film thicknesses in the range of 5-25 Å and annealing temperatures of 200-500 oC were investigated. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements during the subsequent atomic layer deposition (ALD) of tin monosulfide (SnS) allowed analysis of how the optical properties of the SnS/Au absorber layer changed as a function of the growing SnS layer thickness. By employing the Transfer Matrix Method with the estimated optical properties from the in situ analysis, the absorptance of the absorber/spacer/reflector stacks was simulated as a function of the spacer thickness, revealing any signs of the characteristic anti-crossing behavior. It was discovered that a nominal Au film thickness of 25 Å, annealed at 450 oC, and coated with a SnS film of ∼13 nm primed toward the π-phase, resulted in strong optical coupling between the cavity mode and the LSPR. The energy difference at the avoided crossing in the specular reflectance measurement gave an estimated Rabi-splitting energy of 537 meV. This corresponded to about 40% of the original LSPR energy, placing itself within the ultra-strong coupling regime. To evaluate the relevance of the thin-layered structure in photovoltaic applications, more advanced computational methods are required to estimate the useful absorption that occurs in the SnS layer. Nevertheless, these results elucidate the realization of strong optical coupling effects between disordered Au nanostructures and a Fabry-Pérot cavity, and further the possibility of using scalable fabrication methods for this type of ultra-thin absorber/spacer/reflector stack.

In recent years, the enthalpy raise hot channel factor limit has decreased significantly due to the power upgrade of Ringhals 4 and the use of shielding fuel assemblies. The shielding fuel assemblies task are to reduce the neutron leakage to the reactor vessel and in that way extend the reactor lifetime. This is achieved by replacing a few fuel rods with steel rods. Experiences from the last fuel cycles show that the core design procedure has been hampered because of this and that it’s hard to stay under the design limit. A way to overcome this problem and to improve the fuel economy is to introduce the use of radial enrichment distribution in the fuel assembly. This master thesis shows, through a case study of three fuel cycles at Ringhals 4,  that the internal peaking factor can be improved by roughly 2–3 % and that the maximum enthalpy raise hot channel factor can be improved by about 2.0–2.5 % if the fuel assemblies contain three different levels of enrichments instead of currently one. This can be achieved without any noticeable decrease in cycle length. / Genom en fallstudie av tre driftcykler för Ringhals 4 visar den här rapporten att max FΔH under cykeln kan sänkas med 2,0–2,5 % om bränsleknippena radiellt anrikningsoptimeras med minst tre delanrikningar. Totalt under cykeln kan FΔH sänkas med upp till 4 %. Om radiell anrikningsoptimering införs för Vattenfalls PWR:er skulle arbetet med att designa härdarna förenklas och utrymme ges för att ladda reaktorerna på ett mer ekonomiskt sätt.