A new research reactor design for export. Review on considerations of fuel selection

For determining a fuel for a new research reactor, three typical fuel types of plate, tube and rod fuels, which have been widely used as research reactor fuels, are reviewed in various aspects such as fuel material and fabrication, reactor physics and thermal-hydraulic characteristics, structural integrity, and the application of HANARO experiences. U-Mo seems to be desirable as fuel material, which is under various irradiation tests through RERTR program. It is known that U-Mo is better than uranium silicide fuels in view point of high uranium density and reprocessing of irradiated fuels. In the aspect of reactor physics, it looks that all three types of fuel can meet the basic requirements of research reactor being considered. However, rod type fuel of U-7Mo has not enough thermal margin and the fuel power is limited, while plate and tube type fuels have. This is a very advantageous point in upgrading reactor performance. In mechanical and structural aspects, HANARO technology including the control rod derive mechanism concept to be applied to the core with plate type fuel, but is eligible for the tubular type fuel. And tubular fuel with stiffener is better than without stiffener in the aspect of vibration resistance. Thus, in order to get higher neutron flux, plate or tube type fuel is more advantageous than a rod type fuel, and a tubular type fuel is more preferred than a plate type fuel considering the application of well validated HANARO technology including control rod derive mechanism concept