Challenge in performing fuel channel reactor maintenance on aging CANDU reactors

As CANDU fuel channels age they are presenting Reactor Maintenance challenges associated with movement and capture of the Annulus spacers. Bruce Power along with its industry partners have developed innovative strategies to reposition and, in some cases, captures the Annulus spacers. There are two main types of annulus spacers installed in CANDU reactors at Bruce Power. Each represents different technical challenges associated with locating and moving the annulus spacers. These challenges are further exasperated by fuel channel growth associated with aging fuel channels. As the fuel channels age they grow both diametrically and axially increasing the complexity and difficulty of performing fuel channel maintenance. This paper focuses on issues caused by aging fuel channels and shares recent BP Reactor Maintenance OPEX associated with movement of annulus spacers utilizing the Spacer Location and Repositioning (SLAR) and Modal Detection and Repositioning (MODAR) systems on Bruce Power reactors and also shares recent OPEX on the capture of in-service spacers for examination utilizing Annulus Spacer Retrieval tool (ASRT). (author)