Gentilly 2 NGS Recent fuel Experience

Abstract

In the CANDU 6 Gentilly 2 reactor, the 37-element fuel has provided a good record of safe, economic and reliable plant operation for almost 18 years. The fuelling cost is among the lowest in the world due to high neutron economy, simple fuel design, and judicial fuelling scheme. The reliability of fuel is high; only 22 of the 75 760 bundles irradiated at Gentilly 2 at the end of 2000 were confirmed defective and during a fiveyears period from March 1992 to February 1997 saw no defect at Gentilly-2. Also, thanks to the on-power refuelling capability and an effective defect detection and removal system, the primary coolant loops are kept clean (very low activity level) benefiting both maintenance and safety. The post-irradiation examinations and the findings from our ongoing R&D program suggest that the fuel behavior in reactor are basically as originally anticipated, despite an evolutionary 3% increase in bundle uranium mass in the 1980's. For operating conditions, the fuel performance parameters were found to be within the expected range.