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Published: 2019-06-15
Abstract Views: 145
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.53747/jnst.v9i2.47
Issue
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2019)
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Čerba, Štefan, Lüley, J., Vrban, B., Osuský, F., & Nečas, V. (2019). Estimation of Tritium Production in VVER-440 Reactor Core During Normal Operation. Nuclear Science and Technology, 9(2), 10-16. https://doi.org/10.53747/jnst.v9i2.47

Estimation of Tritium Production in VVER-440 Reactor Core During Normal Operation

Štefan Čerba1,2, Jakub Lüley1, Branislav Vrban1, Filip Osuský1, Vladimír Nečas1
1 Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of Nuclear and Physical Engineering, Ilkovičova 3, 812 19 Bratislava, Slovakia
2 B&J NUCLEAR Ltd., Alžbetin Dvor 145, 900 42 Miloslavov, Slovakia

Main Article Content

Abstract

Slovakia as one of the world leading countries in the share of nuclear power in electricity
production and currently operates 2 nuclear power plants, each with 2 VVER-440 units. In addition to these reactors there are 2 VVER-440 units under construction and 2 units in decommissioning. The VVER-440 technology features thermal neutron spectrum, low enriched uranium dioxide fuel and light-water coolant, diluted boric acid and 37 emergency reactivity control assemblies with boron steel absorber. Due to the presence of 10B in the coolant/moderator which has high thermal neutron capture cross-section, the absorption of neutron on these atoms may lead to tritium production. Tritium
strongly contributes to the level of radioactivity of the primary coolant, therefore the NPP staff must have appropriate knowledge of its production during operation. This paper focuses on the estimation of the tritium production for a specific scenario of the operation of the 3rd unit of Mochovce NPP. For simulations the SCALE6 system is used with the detailed calculation model developed at the B&J NUCLEAR ltd. company. The calculations presented in the paper are performed using self-shielded multi-group cross-section libraries, taking into account the operation conditions of Mochovce unit 3 NPP in the first fuel campaign.

Article Details

Keywords

Tritium production, VVER-440, activity, criticality, SCALE system, Mochovce NPP

References

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