Westinghouse Electric Sweden Ab

Nils Magnus Limback

Sture Helmersson

Jonathan Wright

A method of operating a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The reactor () encloses a core having a plurality of fuel rods (). Each fuel rod () includes a cladding and fuel pellets of a nuclear fuel. The fuel pellets are arranged in an inner space of the cladding leaving a free volume comprising an upper plenum, a lower plenum and a pellet-cladding gap. The reactor is operated at a normal power and a normal inlet sub-cooling during a normal state. The reactor is monitored for detecting a defect on the cladding of any of the fuel rods. The operation of the reactor is changed to a particular state after detecting such a defect. The particular state permits an increase of the free volume in the defect fuel rod. The reactor is operated at the particular state during a limited time period, after which the reactor is operated at the normal state.

Growing community of inventors

Vasteras, Sweden

Nils Magnus Limback