Russian fuel assemblies implementation experience at SUNPP-2

The paper contains general information on switching SUNPP Unit 2 to usage of alternative design fuel assemblies. There are 3 Units in operation at SUNPP with total electrical capacity of 3000 MWt, and each of them has its own specific characteristics. The fuel of alternative design (TVS-A) manufactured by TVEL Corporation with gadolinium burnable absorber integrated into fuel elements has been operating at Unit 2 since 2005. Implementation of modified fuel is considered as design changes, and therefore it should be approved, and according to the Law of Ukraine 'On use of nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety' all necessary approval should undergo the State expertise on nuclear and radiation safety. Transient fuel cycles (containing both TVS and TVS-A) was performed by SUNPP's physicists (by means of KASKAD computer code) by use recommendations of RRC 'Kurchatov Institute' experts and was approved in according to the existing procedure. The paper also contains detailed information on the specific characteristics of the SUNPP Unit 2 reactor core, main stages in course of implementation of new fuel types, characteristics of 'mixed' fuel cycles, comparison of calculated and measured power distribution, comparison of calculated and experimental data (Authors)