Investigation of Failed Fuel Detection and Location Using a Flux Tilting Method in a Fast Breeder Reactor

Abstract

Detection and location of failed fuel in a liquidmetal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) are very important both for safety and availability. When a fuel failure is detected, it is desirable to identify the failed subassembly quickly to reduce plant shutdown time. The flux tilting method is expected to effectively identify the defective subassembly. The feasibility of the flux tilting method is investigated for an LMFBR with a 1000-MW(electric) homogeneous core. A numerical simulation is performed to estimate the viability of the flux tilting method, and a combination of the flux tilting method and the sipping method is found to be very effective in identifying the failed subassembly. A functional scheme for a computer-aided failed fuel detection and location system is discussed as part of a future online support system.