ATRIUM 10 achieves world record BWR fuel burnup
The record-setting burnup demonstrates that it is technically possible to achieve these kind of burnups in BWRs with enrichments of 5 percent U235. This enables a batch average discharge burnup as high as 65 MWd/kg U. It also provides clear documentation that the advanced cladding and structural materials used in ATRIUM 10 fuel assemblies exhibit large margins to the design limits at extended burnup rates.
The fuel assemblies were loaded in a European nuclear plant as lead assemblies in 1992 and were recently replaced during the 2001 refueling outage.
ATRIUM 10 fuel assemblies can be used in most BWR plant designs and are characterized by optimal fuel utilization and operational reliability.
ATRIUM 10 is Framatome ANP's sole European BWR fuel offering, while in the U.S. ATRIUM 9 fuel assemblies are being increasingly replaced by ATRIUM 10 assemblies. With in-pile experience of more than 1.5 million fuel-rod cycles worldwide, more than 9,100 ATRIUM fuel assemblies have clocked more than a decade of proven service in BWRs - in countries including Germany, Finland, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S.
The ATRIUM product line features an internal water channel swept by nonboiling water, resulting in enhanced and more uniform neutron moderation. That moderation produces very homogeneous power distribution and optimal fuel utilization that reduces fuel cycle costs.
The 10x10 lattice introduced a few years ago in the ATRIUM 10 product line enabled an increase in the heat transfer surface and reductions to the fuel rod loadings. The modular design also allows operators to selectively optimize individual features and match them to specific requirements.
The achievement of this world record burnup for BWR fuel is the result of extensive research and development in which the reliability and performance of the product line have been enhanced while adhering to design limits. Ongoing development is focused on further increasing the margins to design limits and enhancing the burnup potential. The combined result will be additional improvement in the reliability and operating economy of nuclear power plants. Advanced ATRIUM 10 fuel is scheduled for initial loading in 2002.
Framatome ANP (Advanced Nuclear Power), a Framatome and Siemens Company, is the world's leading nuclear company. Framatome ANP's focus includes power plant service, modernization and nuclear fuel supply for many reactor designs, including those supplied by other vendors, and the development and turnkey construction of nuclear power plants and research reactors. A joint venture, Framatome has a 66% stake and Siemens 34%. Framatome ANP is headquartered in Paris with regional companies in Germany and in the U.S.
Framatome ANP has a total work force of more than 13,000 worldwide and posts annual sales totaling approximately EUR 3 billion.
For further information, visit: http://www.framatome-anp.com
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