Control Rod Worth in High Conversion PWR

Abstract

In a High Conversion PWR (HCPWR), the neutron spectrum is hardened in comparison with the conventional PWR and the nuclear characteristics of the control rod is much different. We have calculated the control rod worth in a HCPWR for several materials of strong neutron absorbers and selected B₄C for the control rod material. For the B₄C control rod, we have investigated the various nuclear characteristics such as the spatial and energy dependency of neutron absorption, the dependency of the control rod worth on moderator to fuel volume ratio and Pu enrichment etc., and obtained the useful data for the nulear design of control rods in a HCPWR.