CANDU fuel handling system - design and development

This Paper describes the basics of the CANDU on-power refuelling equipment systems, including the development of two methods for handling the fuel bundle string without fuelling machine components entering the active reactor core, an overview of the normal refuelling sequence and fuelling rates, and a detailed description of the transfer of irradiated fuel bundles from the heavy water primary heat transport system to the natural water fuel storage system, located outside the reactor containment. The Paper outlines the key factors that influence the design of the CANDU fuel handling systems, and covers the impact that the various requirements of the fuel handling equipment have on the reactor building layout. Also briefly discussed are: safety and reliability of the CANDU fuel handling system; the key design points related to the fuel handling control system; manufacturing needs; and the quality assurance programme requirements applied during fabrication. Finally, the approach adopted to ensure compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards for CANDU fuel handling systems is described. (author)