Use of neutron-absorbers to improve CANDU reactor operating margins

将可燃毒物应用于现有的CANDU天然铀（NU）燃料设计是一种新方法，目前由CANDU业主集团（COG）资助。 由于NU燃料的低过量反应性，中子吸收剂的量预计将被限制在少量。 这意味着对中子经济性的影响相对较小，但燃料性能将得到显著改善。 选择了少量和适当混合的中子吸收剂（在标称重量为24 kg的CANDU燃料棒束中约500 mg吸收剂）。 初步结果表明，初始reactivitypeak的燃料瞬态可以降低足够长的时间，以提高反应堆的运行裕度。 2012年6月在萨斯卡通举行的不扩散研究中心会议上介绍了这一结果。

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.