Refuelling the SLOWPOKE-2 Reactor at Ecole Polytechnique: Procedure and Proposed Experiments

Abstract

As the expected lifetime of the present fuel in the SLOWPOKE-2 reactor at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal was seen to approach, a project was initiated which will lead to the refueling of the reactor in 1997. Two aspects of this project require major development work: the defueling and fuel loading procedures need to be revised since this is the first time a SLOWPOKE reactor will be refueled; work is also required to bring safety analysis and document at ion in line with recent regulatory requirements. Here. we present the proposed overall refueling strategy and discuss the changes in the operation of the core resulting from the use of low-enriched fuel. Additional experiments. which should be carried out during commissioning, are also analyzed.