MS Excel interface to the COBRA code

The COBRA code version used in IPEN to proceed with the thermal-hydraulic analysis of research reactors (COBRA-3C/RERTR) and of power reactors (COBRA-3P), had input and output files not so friendly as users like it. This paper describes a 'COBRA-3C/RERTR MS-Excel Interface' developed using Visual Basic, Fortran Power Station and Excel resources. This Interface allows input entry and modification, program execution and output analysis either in table and graphic form, within a user-friendly environment. This interface allows an easy IEA-R1 reactor thermal-hydraulic analysis during the fuel elements irradiation accompaniment. The main reactor thermal-hydraulic limits are verified in a comparative table, and graphics with the main results are quickly produced. The Excel interface allows generic and complex analysis of others reactors in steady state or transient conditions. In the near future an interface to the COBRA3P version for power reactors will be developed. (author)