Method and system for assessing failures of fuel rods

摘要

A system and method for assessing failure of fuel rods are disclosed. The method may include monitoring fuel rod operational conditions, comparing the fuel rod parameters to parameters limits, calculating the fuel rod performance parameters to determine the likelihood of failure of individual fuel rods, and updating plant operating parameters based on the calculated fuel rod parameters. The system may input the calculated fuel rod parameters into a fuel failure model to assess the probability of failure, and predict the probability of failure of individual fuel rods based on fuel rod parameters in the fuel failure model.

主权项

1. A method for assessing failure of fuel rods, the method comprising:
monitoring fuel rod operational conditions; calculating a plurality of fuel rod parameters from the fuel rod operational conditions, each of the fuel rod parameters reflecting a likelihood of failure of individual fuel rods; comparing each of the plurality of calculated fuel rod parameters to a corresponding parameter limit; modifying projected plant operational conditions, if at least one of the calculated fuel rod parameters exceeds the corresponding parameter limit, so as to reduce a degree to which the calculated fuel rod parameters exceed the corresponding parameter limit, receiving the modified, projected plant operational conditions from an operator if at least one of the calculated fuel rod parameters exceeds the corresponding parameter limit; repeating the calculating, comparing, and receiving steps, the calculating instead including calculating a plurality of fuel rod parameters from the modified, projected plant operational conditions and the fuel rod operational conditions if the at least one of the calculated fuel rod parameters exceeds the corresponding parameter limit; and modifying plant operation based on one of the projected plant operational conditions and the modified projected plant operational conditions.