Neutronics studies of uranium-based fully ceramic micro-encapsulated fuel for PWRs

This study evaluates the core neutronics and fuel cycle characteristics using uranium-based fully ceramic micro-encapsulated (FCM) fuel in a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Specific PWR assembly designs with FCM fuel have been developed, which by virtue of their TRISO particle-based elements are expected to achieve higher fuel burnups while also increasing the tolerance to fuel failures. The SCALE 6.1 code package, developed and maintained at ORNL, was the primary software used to model the assembly designs. Analysis was performed using the SCALE double-heterogeneous (DH) fuel modeling capabilities; however, the Reactivity-Equivalent Physical Transformation (RPT) method was used for lattice calculations due to the long run times associated with the SCALE DH capability. In order to understand the impact on reactivity and reactor operating cycle length, a parametric study was performed by varying TRISO particle design features, such as kernel diameter, coating layer thicknesses, and packing fraction. Also, other features such as the selection of matrix material (SiC, zirconium) and fuel rod dimensions were studied. After evaluating different uranium-based fuels, the higher compound density of uranium mononitride (UN) proved to be favorable, as the parametric studies showed that the FCM particle fuel design will need roughly 12% additional fissile material in comparison to that of a standard UO₂ rod in order to match the lifetime of an 18-month PWR cycle. Neutronically, the FCM fuel designs evaluated maintain acceptable design features in the areas of fuel lifetime and temperature coefficients of reactivity, as well as pin cell and assembly peaking factors.