An investigation on the fuel assembly growth and bow prediction

An investigation has been performed to demonstrate the capability of the SAVAN computer code for the simulation of in core fuel assembly deformation. A detailed mechanical description of the fuel assembly is developed in order to define the parameters needed to cover mechanical design, loads, and operating conditions. The core is modeled with rows of 2D fuel assembly models with gaps between fuel assemblies and between the outermost fuel assemblies and the core barrel. The SAVAN code has been used to estimate the fuel assembly growth and bow due to the irradiation, creep, and compressive force, etc. The major operating conditions introduced to this model are temperature, fluence, hydraulic lift forces and buoyancy forces. The fuel assembly out core mechanical characteristics, in-core interactions between two fuel assemblies, and fuel assembly in-core behaviors were analyzed using SAVAN computer code