Fueling Machine Model for Simulation of Spent Fuel Behavior in Postulated Fuel Handling Accidents

Abstract

On-power fueling is an important feature of the CANDU® reactor. Fueling is a routine operation with a large number of channel fueling visits made each year with the fueling machines acting as the key system. Hence, safety analysis must consider fueling machine events typically when the fueling machine is in transit toward the spent fuel port. This paper presents a model of fueling machine containing spent fuel with complex configuration and multiprocess mechanisms. Using an integral approach with fuel and fueling machine, this model tends to improve previous modeling method, which only takes account of a slice of fuel or fueling machine. This fueling machine model is developed for simulations of the fueling machine coolant thermal hydraulics behavior, the spent fuel behavior, and potential fission product release during postulated loss of heat removal accidents. An example of its application is also presented in this paper.