Instability analysis on xenon spatial oscillation in a CANDU-6 reactor with DUPIC fuel

The instability induced by xenon spatial oscillation of a CANDU-6 reactor with DUPIC fuel has been assessed for three important harmonic perturbations: top-to-bottom, side-to- side and front-to-back oscillations. For each oscillation, the instability index of the DUPIC fuel core has been calculated and compared with that of the natural uranium core. Parametric calculations have also been performed to analyze the e€ect of the power level and axial power shape on the xenon oscillation. This study has shown that the instability due to xenon oscil- lation increases for the DUPIC fuel core compared with the natural uranium core. However, this study has also shown that the current reactivity device system suppresses the xenon oscillation completely for both the natural uranium and the DUPIC fuel cores.