Three-dimensional (X-Y-Z) Core Design of Long-Life Pressurized Water Reactor Using (Th-U)O2 Fuels with The Addition of Gd2O3 and Pa-231 as Burnable Poisons

Abstract

Pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are one of the most dominant types of nuclear power plants that have been operated commercially to produce electricity in the world. The purpose of this study was to perceive a three-dimensional (X-Y-Z) core design of long-life PWR using Thorium-Uranium dioxide ((Th-U)O2) fuels with the addition of Gadolinium (Gd2O3) and Protactinium-231 (Pa-231) as the burnable poisons. A combination of Thorium and enriched Uranium fuels have a higher conversion ratio than other fuels, therefore can guarantee the reactor to operate longer. The burnable poison isotopes could be used to reduce excess reactivity due to the very high thermal neutron absorption cross-section. For core geometry analysis, a three-dimensional (X-Y-Z) geometry and a fuel volume fraction of 40% were applied. The computer code of SRAC 2006 from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the JENDL 4.0 as a nuclear data library were used for calculation. In this study, different fractions of Uranium dioxide, Uranium-235, Gadolinium, and Protactinium-231 in fuel were carried out. The result of this study was a three-dimensional core design of 800 MWt PWR using 60% Uranium dioxide fuel with enriched Uranium-235 of 12%-11% and the addition of 0,025% Gd2O3 and 1,0% Pa-231 which could operate for ten years without refueling. This research is expected to be a reference for long-life PWR design using the Thorium and Uranium fuel cycles.