Fabrication procedure and application of UO2 pellets with ZrB2 cladding in the PWR reactors

Consideration is given to fabrication procedure and prospects of using alternative fuel for PWR reactors named IFBA (Integral Fuel Burnable ABsorber). Boron-containing material ZrB2 compatible with UO2 and zircalloy-4 can in considered fuel is applied on cylindrical surface of fuel pellet in the form of thin coating. Technical and economical indices of cores with such fuel and with burnable absorbers in the form of separate structural element in fuel assemblies are compared. The advantages of UO2 fuel with burnable absorber in the form of boron-containing cladding as compared to (U,Gd)O2 fuel are noted. UO2+ZrB2 fuel as compared to (U,Gd)O2 (without taking account of fabrication cost) promotes optimization of parameters of the PWR cores and achievement of higher burnup, improves the regulation of coefficients of power peak and hot channel, is characterized by the minimal residual absorbing capacity in the end of operating period and doesn't require the change of enrichment of UO2+ZrB2 pellets