Thesis (MSc (Physics))--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation reports on the impact of a set of selected nuclear fuel management
parameters on reactor operations of the PBMR core. This is achieved by performing an
assessment of the impact of nuclear fuel management parameter variations on the most
important safety and economics issues for the PBMR core. These include the maximum
fuel temperature at steady state and during Depressurized Loss of Forced Cooling
(DLOFC) accident conditions. The reactivity worth of the Reactor Control System (RCS
which determines the shutdown capability of the reactor core and the average discharge
burn-up of fuel are also established. The fuel management parameters considered in this
study include different enrichment levels, heavy metal loadings and fuel sphere
circulation regimes. The impact and importance of these parameters on plant safety and
economics is assessed. The dissertation will report the effects on the standard core
physics parameters such as power peaking, multiplication factor, burn-up (safety and
economics) and derive the benefits and drawbacks from the results. Based upon the
findings from this study, and also experimental data, an optimum fuel management
scheme is proposed for the PBMR core. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling beskryf die uitwerking van ‘n gekose stel kernbrandstofparameters
op die bedryf van die PBMR reaktor. Die impak wat variasies in kernbrandstofparameters
op belangrike veiligheids- en ekonomiese oorwegings het, is tydens hierdie studie
ondersoek. Van die belangrikste oorwegings is die maksimum brandstoftemperatuur
tydens normale, konstante bedryf, asook gedurende ‘n “Depressurized Loss of Forced
Cooling (DLOFC)” insident waar alle verkoeling gestaak word. Ander belangrike fasette
wat ondersoek is, is die reaktiwiteitwaarde van die beheerstelsel (RCS), wat die aanleg se
vermoë om veilig af te sluit bepaal, asook die totale kernverbruik van die brandstof. Die
kernbrandstofparameters wat in ag geneem is, sluit die brandstofverryking,
swaarmetaalinhoud en die aantal brandstofsirkulasies deur die reaktorhart in. Die
belangrikheid en impak van elk van hierdie parameters is ondersoek en word in die
verhandeling beskryf . Daar word verslag gelewer oor die voor- en nadele, asook die
uitwerking van hierdie variasies op standaard reaktorfisika-parameters soos
drywingspieke in die brandstof, neutronvermenigvuldigingsfaktore en kernverbuik van
die brandstof, vanaf ‘n veiligheids- en ekonomiese oogpunt. Gebaseer op die
gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie, tesame met eksperimentele data, word ‘n optimale
kernbrandstofbestuurprogram voorgestel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4234 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Movalo, Raisibe Shirley |
| Contributors | Stander, J. A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 59 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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