METHOD OF OPERATING A PRESSURIZED-WATER NUCLEAR REACTOR, ALLOWING SAME TO PASS FROM A PLUTONIUM EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE TO A URANIUM EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE, AND CORRESPONDING NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY

摘要

In this method: the reactor (1) is operated for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core (2) contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, the reactor (1) is operated for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then the nuclear reactor (1) is operated for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.