Comparison between fork and oval type control fuel elements

Comparison between fork and oval type Control Fuel Elements (CFE) mainly from neutronic aspects were made. The neutronic parameters which were considered for this purpose are; excess reactivity, control rod worth shutdown margin, reactivity safety factor and total peaking factor. Calculations were applied for three different core configurations. Results of the calculations indicate that a core with fork type CFE has better performance with respect to the oval type CFE. In this regard the core configuration with oval type CFE has 16% more peaking factor with respect to the fork type CFE. Therefore due this effect if a core with frok CFE has total peaking factor 3 and this number is maximum acceptable peaking factor from operational point of view, thus this core can not be operated at the same power level if fork CFE replaced with oval type CFE. (author)