Use of neutron-absorbers to improve CANDU reactor operating margins

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The proposed application of burnable poisons to existing CANDU Natural Uranium (NU) fuel design is a novel approach and is currentlyfunded under the CANDU Owners Group (COG). Because of low excess reactivityfor NU fuel, the amount of neutron-absorber is expected to be restricted to small quantities. This implies the impact on neutron economywould be relativelyminimal, but the fuel performance would be significantlyimproved. Small amounts and appropriate mixtures of neutron absorbers were selected (approximately500 mg of absorbers in a CANDU fuel bundle having a nominal weight of 24 kg). Preliminary results indicate that the fuelling transient for the initial reactivitypeak can be lowered long enough to improve the reactor's operating margins. This result was presented at the CNS Conference in Saskatoon in June 2012.