Neutronic Performance of the VVER-1000 Reactor Using Thorium Fuel with ENDF Library

Abstract

In this paper, neutronic calculations and the core analysis of the VVER-1000 reactor were performed using MCNP6 code together with both ENDF/B-VII.1 and ENDF/B-VIII libraries. The effect of thorium introduction on the neutronic parameters of the VVER-1000 reactor was discussed. The reference core was initially filled with enriched uranium oxide fuel and then fueled with uranium-thorium fuel. The calculations determine the delayed neutron fraction βeff, the temperature reactivity coefficients, the fuel consumption, and the production of the transuranic elements during reactor operation. βeff and the Doppler coefficient (DC) are found to be in agreement with the design values. It is found that the core loaded with uranium and thorium has lower delayed neutron fraction than the uranium oxide core. The moderator temperature coefficients of the uranium-thorium core are found to be higher than those of the uranium core. Results indicated that thorium has lower production of minor actinides (MAs) and transuranic elements (mainly plutonium isotopes) compared with the relatively large amounts produced from the uranium-based fuel UO2.

Sustainability of Nuclear Fuel Resources in Indonesia with Open and Closed Fuel Cycle

“…Therefore, only uranium is considered in open cycle calculations, since thorium lacks naturally occurring fissile isotope necessary to start and maintain chain fission reaction. Although there is a possibility of using thorium alongside uranium, including the one proposed in the TMSR-500, there is currently little evidence that it brings benefit (Reda et al, 2021).…”