Power maneuvering of pressurized water reactors with axially variable strength control rods

In this research, axially variable strength control rods (AVSCRs) are developed to solve the problems related to the axial power distribution of a reactor during power maneuvering of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The control rods are classified into two types: multipurpose control rods and regulating control rods. Two multipurpose control rod banks (AVSCR1, AVSCR2) are newly developed; conventional axially uniform strength control rods are adopted as regulating control rod banks to minimize the design change. The newly developed AVSCRs are axially three-sectioned and their worth shapes are optimized to obtain appropriate moving characteristics related to the variation of the axial offset (AO) according to the motion of the AVSCRs. The operation strategy for the power maneuvering is developed in consideration of the moving characteristics of the AVSCRs. This strategy consists of simple logics, and no use of reactivity compensation by boron is considered. Finally, the AVSCRs are applied to the power maneuvering with a typical 100-50-100%, 2-6-2-14 h pattern of daily load-follow for all burn-up state of the core. From the application results, it is shown that the use of AVSCRs makes it possible to regulate AO within the target band during the power maneuvering with only control rods. Consequently, power maneuvering is accomplished without reactivity compensation by a change in boron concentration, and the AVSCRs can cover the entire burn-up states of the reactor core.