Parametric Study and Determination of Optimal Power Level in Small Long-Life PWR using (Th-233U)C Fuel and 231Pa as Burnable Poison
Boni Pahlanop Lapanporo(a),(c), Zaki Suud(a),(b)

(a)Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesa 10 Bandung 40132, Indonesia
*boni8poro[at]physics.untan.ac.id
(b)Nuclear Physics & Biophysics Research Division, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesa 10 Bandung 40132, INDONESIA
(c)Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Tanjungpura, Jl. Prof. Dr. H. Hadari Nawawi Pontianak 78124, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the optimal performance of (Th-233U)C fuel in the Small Long-Life Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) core. The analysis is carried out by designing the reactor core into three fuel regions with 233U enrichment levels ranging from 3% to 9%, with a 1% difference for each fuel region. 231Pa is a burnable poison (BP) added to the fuel. The analyzed fuel volume fraction ranges from 30% to 65% with a 5% incremental variation. Power level variations are also conducted within the 300-500 MWth with increments of 50 MWth. Calculations are performed using the Standard Reactor Analysis Code (SRAC) program with the PIJ and CITATION modules for cell and core calculations, utilizing JENDL-4.0 nuclide data. The calculation results analyzed include reactor criticality, excess reactivity, and power density profile. The targeted optimum results in this research involve a specific fuel configuration and power level where the reactor can achieve critical conditions for up to 20 years with excess reactivity below 1%.

Keywords: Thorium, Long-Life PWR, Core design, SMR, SRAC

Topic: Nuclear Science and Engineering