On the upgrading of RBMK reactor fueling

Alternative methods of controlling the reactivity void coefficient of operating RBMK reactors are studied to find more economic variants decreasing core drying effect down to < 1 β (β is the efficient fraction of delayed neutrons). Alternatives of fuel assembly design modification and promising types of the RBMK fuel are considered for reducing the drying effect. The characteristics at the same drying effect are compared. The most economic ways of improving RBMK safety are promosed. It is shown that a considerable improvement of the performance economic indexes of the operating RBMK reactors can be achieved by increasing of the channel and fuel element diameters. The option of vibrocompacted fuel seems to be the most perspective one, provided the present design of graphite stack and channel is maintained