Problems related to use of Erbium as burnable poison for VVER are discussed. Comparison is made between neutronics characteristics of Uranium-Gadolinium and Uranium-Erbium fuel cycles. The study shows that use of Erbium as burnable poison allows decreasing the peaking factor in the core. Meanwhile residual Erbium at the end of the fuel cycle makes it necessary to increase fuel enrichment. There is made the conclusion of prospects of using Erbium as burnable poison for VVER.

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This paper presents the current status of works performed to date to further upgrade fuel assemblies and fuel cycle of WWER-440 reactors, and also considers some innovations – both envisaged and implemented in practice – intended to improve their neutronic and operating parameters. Reactors were assumed to operate at 100% power in a steady-state refueling mode. Trial operation of third-generation fuel assemblies (FA-3), including a comparison between some calculated and measured results, is described as an example illustrating these new developments.

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