An on-line fuel management method using in-core detector readings for CANDU reactors

An on-line fuel management method for a CANDU reactor has been developed. In the method, the in-core detector readings are used for channel power generation for refueling channel selection. The in-core detector readings are converted to measured mesh readings, and the Kalman filtering technique is applied to reduce calculation and measurement errors of the mesh readings. Then, the estimated channel powers are fed into the refueling channel selection process, in which the channels are refueled so that the difference of zone power from the reference one is minimized. The performance of the method has been demonstrated against the operating data of CANDU 6 reactor. Also, it is found that the core tracking fuel management could be implemented, so that the proposed method would contribute to economic and safe operation of the reactor.