Nuclear Physics and Atomic Energy

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Nuclear Physics and Atomic Energy

  ISSN: 1818-331X (Print), 2074-0565 (Online)
  Publisher: Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
  Languages: Ukrainian, English, Russian
  Periodicity: 4 times per year

  Open access peer reviewed journal


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Nucl. Phys. At. Energy 2019, volume 20, issue 2, pages 159-163.
Section: Atomic Energy.
Received: 01.06.2018; Accepted: 26.12.2018; Published online: 27.08.2019.
PDF Full text (en)
https://doi.org/10.15407/jnpae2019.02.159

Analysis of nuclear safety in diversification of Westinghouse fuel assemblies at WWER-1000

V. I. Skalozubov, I. L. Kozlov*, Yu. A. Komarov, O. A. Chulkin, O. I. Piontkovskyi

Odessa National Polytechnic University, Odesa, Ukraine

*Corresponding author. E-mail address: kozlov_i.l_@ukr.net

Abstract: The research presents an analysis of the known results in modeling the maximum design accident (MDA) using the code RELAP5/V3.2 with Westinghouse fuel assemblies’ (WFA) diversification in WWER-1000 reactors. According to the known results of MDA calculated model simulation with RELAP5/V3.2 code at the maximum allowable water temperature in the heat WWER emergency cooling system exchanger (90 °Ñ), the fuel elements’ claddings temperature reaches 1320 °Ñ and exceeds the admissible nuclear safety limit (1200 °Ñ). Thus, according to known results, these MDA with WFA engaged pass from the "design" accident status to the "severe" accident status and means a decrease in safety in relation to the FA-A fuel assemblies. The alternative MDA analysis for WFA-equipped plants showed that, unlike the known calculations, the nuclear safety limit on the maximum permissible fuel cladding temperature is not violated and never reduces the overall safety level in WWER diversification with WFA fuel assemblies.

Keywords: security, diversification of fuel assemblies.

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