Fuel Bundle Deformation Model

Abstract

A finite-element model of a 43-element CANFLEX fuel bundle was developed using ANSYS, a commercial finite-element software package. The target application of this bundle deformation model is the prediction of the thermal and mechanical loads a fuel bundle could impart onto its pressure tube under CANDU reactor accident transient conditions. The current version of the bundle model focuses on a small number of key components (fuel, sheath and end plates) and parameters (fuel thermal expansion, fuel/sheath interaction, and end-plate effects). This paper summarizes the current finite element fuel bundle deformation model, the testing done to date on individual components and the plans for future development.