Calculations supporting the shipment of irradiated CANFLEX demonstration fuel bundles

At the Point Lepreau Generating Station (PLGS), CANFLEX bundles were irradiated in the reactor core as part of the demonstration irradiation for the CANFLEX prototype fuel bundle. Some of these bundles were selected for shipment to the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) in Ontario for post-irradiation examination. The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) require estimated values of several fuel parameters to satisfy the shipping regulations. The frequency of such calculations has increased over the last few years as NB Power continues its involvement with and support of CANDU fuel research and development. An analysis tool has been developed to determine the 'best-estimates' for the required fuel parameters. This paper briefly describes the irradiation of CANFLEX fuel, the shipping requirements, the analysis tool, the methods used to determine the estimates of the various spent fuel parameters and a summary of the supporting calculations for two CANFLEX bundles. (author)