b'2.5 LWR COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSISLWR Computational Analysis Principal Investigator: Michael Todosow Team Members/ Collaborator: Arantxa CuadraThe combination ofT he objective of increasingMaintain structural integrity and the fuel burnup in currentfunctionality under operating Pressurized Water Reactorsand accident scenarios (ability accident tolerant (PWRs) requires higher fuel enrich- to be inserted/withdrawn, fuel/cladding andments than the current 5 w/o. Thehandle loads/shocks, such as advanced control rodsuse of higher enrichments reducesdue to SCRAM)with improved thermo- the worth of current silver-indium-chemical/ mechanicalcadmium (AIC) control rods. AnBe chemically and mechanically characteristics enhancesoption to address this issue is torobust in reactor temperature the performance andexplore other control rod materialsand radiation environmentsafety of LWRs inwith the objective to enhance theHigh miscibility with fuelnormal and accidentpoisoning effects/requirementsmaterials to avoid possibilityconditions beyond thosewhile maintaining structuralof re-criticalityachievable by ATF aloneintegrity/functionality during Desirable characteristics include:and will be an enabler fornormal operation and accidentHigh melting temperature: successfully achievingconditions. These objectives are aAbsorber, cladding/sheathhigher burnups. natural complement to accidentMinimal adverse chemicaltolerant fuel (ATF) concepts whichinteractions: Between absorber are viewed as enablers to theand cladding/sheath, coolant, etc. achievement of higher burnups. TheMinimize adverse mechanical combination of accident tolerantinteractions, e.g., swelling, wear/fuel/cladding and advanced controlfretting, ballooning, bowingrods enhances the performance andResource availability,safety of light water reactors (LWRs)manufacturability, costin normal/high burnup and accidentThis FY the neutronic performance conditions beyond those achievableof hafnium-based control rods that by ATF alone. could potentially satisfy the above Project Description: criteria was evaluated with a focus Requirements and desirable on implementation in PWRs with characteristics of advanced/accidentfuels with an enrichment of 7 w/o tolerant control rods include: to achieve high burnup. ImpactsOptions must: considered include control rod worth, as well as fuel and moderator Maintain or exceed absorptiontemperature coefficients, and capabilities (shutdown, ejectedsoluble boron worth. The present rod worth, etc.) for desiredeffort is complementary to work target lifetime performed at Brookhaven National 100 2022|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'