PHWR Advanced Fuel R&D for the 21st Century in Korea

Abstract

As the first CANDU-PHWR nuclear power plant in Korea, Wolsong Unit 7 has been successfully operated since 7983. The CANDU installed electric-generation capacity was about 50 % of the installed electric generation capacity of nuclear power plants in Korea in 1983 but then decreased to less than 70 % of the total installed nuclear electric-generation capacity by 1 996. This CA NDU installed electric generation capacity has recovered to about 20 % of the total installed nuclear electric-generation capacity in 7999, because Wolsong Units 2, 3 and 4 have been placed into commercial operation in 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. This indicates that CANDU reactors are not the majority of nuclear power plants in Korea. Since the period of the late 1970s, nuclear fuel design and fabrication technologies have been engaged as one of the important R & D activities in Korea. As one of the early R & D activities leading to nuclear power industrialization in Korea, the project to develop the design and fabrication technology of CANDU-6 37element fuel had been successfully carried out from 7987 to 7987 by KAERI. Just after the successful completion of the 37- element fuel R & D, KAERI has developed a CANDU-6 advanced fuel. The key targets of the development program are safety enhancement, reduction of spent fuel volume, and economic improvements, using the inherent characteristics and advantages of CANDU technology. The CANFLEX and DUPIC R & D programs have been conducted under Korea's Nuclear Energy R & D Project as national mid- and long-term programs since 7992. As the second of the CANDU R & D products in Korea, the CANFLEX-NU fuel has been jointly developed by KAERI and AECL. The fuel has demonstrated its irradiation performance in a Canadian commercial power reactor; Pt. Lepreau Generating Station since 1998 September. The RU(SEU) and DUPIC fuels are expected to be developed continuously until about the year 2010 for their use in CANDU reactors. Beside these fuel cycles, SEU, LWMWWR synergism (RU, MOX, TANDEM) and Th could be also considered for CANDU fuel cycles in the 21" century, because CANDU fuel cycle flexibility arises naturally from excellent neutron economy on-power fuelling, and simple fuel design. The advanced fuel cycles can be utilized in the CANFLEX 43element fuel bundle. However; the CANDU-PHWR advanced fuel R & D for the 21" century in Korea shall take into account "nuclear safety", "nuclear waste ", "non-proliferation" and "economics" in the favor of the arguments from the public, international environment, and utilities.