Published December 2002 | Version v1
Journal article

12 Years fuel evolution experience at Leibstadt NPP

  • 1. BWR Fuel Engineering, Vaesteras (Sweden)
  • 2. BWR Fuel Products, Vaesteras (Sweden)
  • 3. Nuclear Fuel Department, Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft Laufenburg AG, Laufenberg (Switzerland)

Description

The Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant is a GE-designed BWR-6. Since its commercial start-up in 1984, the plant has managed a comprehensive program to enhance production efficiency. Cornerstones in this program are a power uprate from 3 138 MWth to 3 600 MWth (approximately 15 percent) and a steady fuel burnup increase of 1-2 MWd/kgU per year. Recently, assembly average burnups of 55 MWd/kgU and local burnups of 75 MWd/kgU have been licensed. Both the power uprate and the burnup increase have been essential for cost effective electricity production, but in many respects are also a challenge for the fuel and core design. In particular, the plant availability and fuel reliability have to be maintained at a very high level, requiring a cautious introduction of new features and materials. (orig.)

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Atw. Internationale Zeitschrift fuer Kernenergie
Journal Volume
47
Journal Issue
12
Journal Page Range
p. 780-783
ISSN
1431-5254