PWR FUEL ROD DESIGN (FR200). Nuclear Fuels Training Programs

At the end of this course, the participant will gain familiarity with the fuel rod design criteria and will understand the process to perform fuel rod design related calculations including rod internal pressure calculations, clad stress calculations, and fuel rod temperature calculations. The participant will also be introduced to some of the fuel rod design criteria methods and changes introduced with PAD5. The course will include ALFRED training and close on a tour of the Westinghouse Specialty Metals Plant (Optional).

The purpose of PWR Fuel Rod Design is to ensure the integrity of the fuel rod throughout its projected lifetime. Fuel rods are designed to satisfy a variety of conservative design bases during both Condition 1 and 2 events. For each design basis, the performance of the limiting fuel rod (with appropriate allowance for uncertainties) must not exceed the design limit.

Course Schedule:

• Introduction. Fuel Rod Design and Codes Overview. Design Interface Requirements. Fuel Performance Models.
• Fuel Temperature Analysis.
• Rod Internal Pressure-No Gap Reopening. Rod Internal Pressure-DNB Propagation. Clad Corrosion.
• Clad Stress and Transient Clad Strain. Steady State Strain. Other Fuel Rod Design Criteria.
• 3D FAC. ALFRED Training. Tour of Westinghouse Specialty Metals Plant in Blairsville, PA (Optional).