10.36. The design procedure for a reload batch of fuel assemblies should accomplish the general objective of achieving minimum energy-generating costs within licensing and utility planning constraints. In practice, the re­sponsibility for the several aspects of the design process may be divided among several groups. For example, in a typical utility, one group may have the primary responsibility for plant scheduling, including refueling outages, and establishing energy generation requirements. Fuel procure­ment and economic analysis are likely to be the responsibility of a second group, while in-core nuclear analysis and reload assembly design would be accomplished by a third group.

10.37. Initially, a preliminary core reload design is prepared by the third group to meet cycle energy needs that have been specified by the first group and economic guidelines provided by the second group. In this preliminary step, which is likely to involve all three groups, the batch size and enrichments are selected. After agreement, subsequent analyses and design are pursued primarily by the third group. We will concentrate on the activities of this third group.