Core-State Models for Fuel Management of Equilibrium and Transition Cycles in Pressurized Water Reactors

Fuel management requires that mass, energy, and reactivity balance be satisfied in each reload cycle. Procedures for selection of alternatives, core-state models, and fuel cost calculations have been developed for both equilibrium and transition cycles. Effective cycle lengths and fuel cycle variables—namely, reload batch size, schedule of in-core residence for the fuel, feed enrichments, energy sharing cycle by cycle, and discharge burnup and isotopics—are the variables being considered for fuel management planning with a given energy generation plan, fuel design, recycling strategy, and financial assumptions.