Influence of void fraction on BWR spent fuel direct recycling scenario

Preliminary study on influence of changing void fraction (VF) on SUPEL (Straight Utilization of sPEnt LWR fuel in LWR system) scenario for boiling water reactor (BWR) spent fuel direct recycling scheme has been carried out. Several VF values of BWR have been investigated to determine the criticality of reactor. The VF values range from 20% to 60%. The fraction of spent fuel to the total loaded fuel was changed from 5% to 20%. The required uranium enrichment for criticality becomes higher with the increasing of VF as well as the enlarging of the fraction of spent fuel in loaded fuel. The neutron spectra become harder with the augmenting of VF. The plutonium and minor actinides isotopes are produced more in the reactor.