High burnup UO2 fuel pellets with dopants for WWER

Full text: The currently achieved level of design and technology developments provided for the implementation of the fuel cycle (4x1) in WWER at the maximal design burnup of 56 MWd/kgU per FA. Presently in Russia the program is under way to improve the technical and economic parameters of WWER fuel cycles characterized by an increased fuel usability. To meet the requirements placed on the new fuel that ensures the reliable operation under conditions of higher burnups complex activities are under way to optimize the composition and microstructure of fuel pellets as applied to WWER. This paper describes a general approach to providing the stimulated composition and microstructure of fuel via introducing various dopants. Aside from this, the paper presents the experimentally results of studies into the main technologic and operational characteristics of dopant containing fuel pellets including higher grain sizes, pores distribution and oxygen to metal ratio. The results of the experiments made it possible to work out the pilot commercial process of the modified fuel fabrication, to manufacture pellet batches to be semi-commercially operated at NPP with WWER. (author)