REFUEL: Automated Refhel-ling Program for CANDU Reactors

Abstract

REFUEL is a Fortran-77 code that has been successfully used to perform extensive refuelling simulations for 480-cbannel and 380-cbannel CANDU reactors using natural and enriched fuel. The REFUEL program is run in series with the RFSP program (Reactor Fuelling Simulation Program which performs core simulations - Ref. 1), to choose the channels to be refuelled for the next full-power-day (FPO), and carry out a one FPD simulation. The program is automated, using a batch file, to produce an RFSP input file to simulate refuelling of the next FPD, and to execute RFSP with that input to produce an output file that is ready for use in the next refuelling step. The code can easily be adapted to choose the optimum channels to be refuelled for any CANDU reactor.