Material requirements of the high performance light water reactor

This paper summarizes results of various stress and deformation analyses which were performed for the design concept of the High Performance Light Water Reactor. These are in particular predictions of fuel cladding temperatures, deformations and stresses, assuming that fuel rods are wrapped with a wire as grid spacer enhancing coolant mixing. Moreover, the fuel assembly box with its honeycomb sandwich panels, which were optimized for minimum neutron absorption, has been analyzed with respect to temperatures, deformations and stresses, as well as the mixing plenums above and underneath the reactor core. Finally, transient stress analyses and radiation exposure will be shown exemplarily for the thick walled pressure vessel. The results shall give material research programmes a better understanding of required material properties for supercritical water cooled reactors.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights►Conceptual design study of an innovative nuclear reactor cooled with supercritical water. ► Temperatures and stresses will characterize future material requirements. ► A joint European project performed by the Generation IV International Forum.