Modeling of MOX Fuel Behavior for Fast Reactor Application
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are considered as a solution to establish a continuously available, affordable and sustainable energy system. SCK CEN is currently designing a pool type Lead cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) that will serve as European LFR-SMR demonstrator: LEANDREA (Lead-cooled European Advanced Nuclear Demonstration Reactor for Energy Applications).
LEANDREA driver core will be loaded with MOX fuel and cladded with Ti_15_15 tubes. The current activity will support the fuel rod design by providing a systematic fuel performance analysis and by taking a first step into the validation of models against available experimental databases.
- Bibliographic research on MOX fuel behavior distinguishing between LWR and FR conditions.
- Training on the use of fuel performance code (i.e. TRANSURANUS version 2023).
- Execution of sensitivity/parametric analyses based on an already available model of the LEANDREA hottest fuel rod.
- Preparation of input deck, post processing and comparison with PIE of selected experimental irradiations carried out in past Sodium cooled Fast Reactors.
- Write a final summary report.
The duration of the thesis is 24 weeks and the preferred period is starting from March/April 2026.