Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited / Energie Atomique Du Canada Limitee

Robert R Bodner

Sermet Kuran

Mustapha Boubcher

Cathy Cottrell

Holly Bruce Hamilton

Bronwyn H Hyland

Dan Popov

Benoit Arsenault

Jonathan Tyo

Holly-Bruce Hamilton

Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are disclosed, and in some embodiments include a first fuel element including thorium dioxide; a second fuel element including uranium having a first fissile content; and a third fuel element including uranium having a second fissile content different from the first fissile content. Nuclear reactors using such fuel bundles are also disclosed, including pressurized heavy water nuclear reactors. The uranium having the different fissile contents can include combinations of natural uranium, depleted uranium, recycled uranium, slightly enriched uranium, and low enriched uranium.

Nuclear fuel bundle containing thorium and nuclear reactor comprising same

A nuclear reactor can include a pressure vessel for containing a pressurized moderator at a first pressure. The nuclear reactor can also include a plurality of fuel channels for a coolant fluid at a second pressure. The plurality of fuel channels are fluidly connected at inlet ends thereof to a coolant supply conduit and are adapted to receive nuclear fuel bundles and to be mounted within the pressure vessel and surrounded by the moderator. The outlet ends of the fuel channels are fluidly connected to a coolant outlet conduit to enable the coolant fluid to circulate from the coolant supply conduit through the fuel channels to the coolant outlet conduit. The plurality of fuel channels maintain separation between the coolant fluid circulating within the fuel channels and the moderator.

Pressure-tube reactor with pressurized moderator

Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are described and illustrated, and in some cases include fuel elements each having a fissile content ofU between about 0.9 wt %U and 5.0 wt %U, and wherein at least one of the fuel elements is a poisoned low-enriched uranium fuel element including a neutron poison in a concentration greater than about 5.0 vol %.

Nuclear fuel containing a neutron absorber

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Oakville, Canada

Robert R Bodner