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Conference Article: Design Optimization and Analysis of Coated Particle Fuel Using Advanced Fuel Performance Modeling Techniques

Jing Wang, Ronald G. Ballinger, Jane T. Diecker, MIT Nuclear Engineering Dept., Cambridge, USA

Abstract

TIMCOAT, an advanced fuel performance model for coated particle fuel, has has been used to optimize coated particle fuel design with respect to end of life failure probability. TIMCOAT is an integrated fuel performance model for coated particle fuel that has been developed to comprehensively study the behavior of TRISO coated fuel. Modeling of both pebble bed and prismatic configurations is possible. Monte Carlo sampling of particles is employed in fuel failure prediction to capture the statistical features of dimensions, material properties, and in the case of the pebble bed concept, the statistical nature of the refueling process. The model has been used to optimize fuel reliability with respect to initial dimensions and physical properties and the uncertainty in the values for these properties for two pebble bed core designs, one with an un-fueled central pebble column and another with a solid graphite central column . In addition, the effect of uncertainties in fuel particle dimensions and physical properties has been explored.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
HTR-2004, pp:1-20