ABB Combustion Engineering nuclear fuel performance target: Zero defects

PWR nuclear fuel designed and fabricated by ABB is now operating in 17 reactors around the world. This includes fuel for ABB Combustion Engineering (ABB CE) designed reactors and reload fuel for reactors of other vendors designs in France, Sweden and Belgium. ABB Atom in Sweden delivers the ABB PWR fuel supplied for European reactors. In Korea, Korea Nuclear Fuel Company manufactures ABB CE designed fuel for the ABB CE fleet of reactors. The lead plant, Yonggwang Unit 3, has just gone into commercial operation. All of this fuel is currently operating with excellent reliability. ABB CE believes this excellent level of performance is the result of innovative engineering and manufacturing technology and extraordinary attention to detail in all aspects of the fuel manufacturing process. One of the most important design features, the GUARDIANTM debris resistant grid, is accepted at all ABB CE fueled PWRs. There has never been a debris related, or any other failure in a GUARDIANTM fuel assembly. ABB CE is now working with KNFC and others to introduce the GUARDIANTM debris resistant grid into the Korean plants as soon as possible. This paper will present and discuss the data illustrating the excellent performance and reliability achieved by ABB CE PWR nuclear fuel. The development history and implementation of the engineered design features and manufacturing processes contributing to Zero Defect (ZD) fuel performance will also be presented and discussed