USE OF ERBIUM AS BURNABLE POISON FOR VVER

A. Pavlovichev, E. Kosourov, Anastasia Shcherenko, V. Saprykin, A. Lazarenko, S. Aleshin, Anna Shcherenko, National Research Center «Kurchatov Institute», Moscow, Russia

22nd Symposium of AER on VVER Reactor Physics and Reactor Safety (2012, Průhonice, Czech Republic)
CORE DESIGN, OPERATION AND FUEL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Problems related to use of Erbium as burnable poison for VVER are discussed.
Comparison is made between neutronics characteristics of Uranium-Gadolinium and
Uranium-Erbium fuel cycles. The study shows that use of Erbium as burnable poison allows
decreasing the peaking factor in the core. Meanwhile residual Erbium at the end of the fuel
cycle makes it necessary to increase fuel enrichment. There is made the conclusion of
prospects of using Erbium as burnable poison for VVER.

Presentation / full paper