Improvement of the method used for hydraulic profiling of an RBMK-1500 core at the Ignalina nuclear power plant

Abstract

An improvement of the method of hydraulic profiling of the RBMK-1500 core at the Ignalina nuclear power plant is examined. The hydraulic profiling method employs an approach where an adequate margin up to a crisis of heat transfer is provided in the channels of the reactor, the mass steam content at all channel exits is kept uniform, the number of adjustments of the stop-control valve at power is kept to a minimum, the flow rate is changed three times over the entire run of a fuel assembly, and the total flow rate through the reactor is maintained within the regulation limits over the entire run. The GIDRA software developed makes it possible to perform hydraulic profiling of RBMK-1500 using the method indicated.