A method for VVER-1000 fuel rearrangement optimization taking into account both fuel cladding durability and burnup

A method for VVER-1000 fuel rearrangement optimization that takes into account both cladding durability and fuel burnup and which is suitable for any regime of normal reactor operation has been established. The main stages involved in solving the problem of fuel rearrangement optimization are discussed in detail. Using the proposed fuel rearrangement efficiency criterion, a simple example VVER-1000 fuel rearrangement optimization problem is solved under deterministic and uncertain conditions. It is shown that the deterministic and robust (in the face of uncertainty) solutions of the rearrangement optimization problem are similar in principle, but the robust solution is, as might be anticipated, more conservative.

► Fuel cladding life and burnup determine fuel rearrangement optimization.
► The proposed rearrangement optimization criterion is universal.
► Robust optimization conservatively confirms the outcome of deterministic optimization.
► Robust optimization reveals the trade-off between mean performance and consistency of performance in the face of uncertainties in operational conditions.