A fuel design to improve BWR performance

An evaluation of a 9x9 BWR fuel design relative to an 8 x 8 fuel design is presented. The benefits from the 9 x 9 fuel design include: greater plant operational flexability, higher burnup capability, and greater safety and cladding integrity safety margins. These performance benefits of 9 x 9 fuel are a result of the reduced Linear Heat Generation Rate and corresponding reduced operating fuel temperatures in a 9 x 9 fuel design relative to an 8 x 8 design. As a minimum, a twenty percent higher burnup capability and a 2% increase in plant capacity factors are shown to be attainable with the 9 x 9 fuel design