Criticality analysis for BWR spent fuel based on the burnup credit evaluation from full core simulations

Abstract

This study performed criticality analysis for the GBC-68 storage cask loaded with boiling water reactor (BWR) spent fuel at the discharged burnups obtained from the full-core simulations. The analysis was conducted for: (1) different reloading scenarios; (2) target burnups; and (3) two fuel assembly types-GE14 and SVEA100-to estimate the impact each of the three factors has on the cask reactivity. The BWR spent fuel composition was estimated using the results of the nodal analysis for the advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) core model developed in this study. The nodal calculations provided realistic operating data and axial burnup and coolant density profiles, for each fuel assembly in the reactor core. The estimated cask’s keff were compared with the fresh fuel and peak reactivity standards to identify the benefit of the burnup credit method applied to the BWR spent fuel at their potential discharge burnups. The analysis identified the significant cask criticality reduction from employing the burnup credit approach compared to the conventional fresh fuel approach. However, the criticality reduction was small compared to the peak reactivity approach, and could even disappear for low burnt fuel assemblies from non-optimal reloading patterns. In terms of cask manufacturing, the potential financial benefit from using the burnup credit approach was estimated to be USD 3.3 million per reactor cycle.