Core design and fuel management

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The SMART core is designed to produce a thermal energy of 330 MW with 57 fuel assemblies of a 17 X 17 array and shown in Figure 15.6. The SMART core design providing an inherent safety is characterized by:

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Figure 15.6 SMART core loading pattern and control rod arrangement.

• longer cycle operation with a two-batch reload scheme;

• low core power density;

• adequate thermal margin of more than 15%;

• inherently free from Xenon oscillation instability;

• minimum rod motion for the load follows with coolant temperature control.

SMART fuel management is designed to achieve a maximum cycle length between refueling. A simple two-batch refueling scheme without reprocessing returns a cycle of 990 effective full power days (EFPD) for a 36 month operation.