Feasibility study on ABWR full MOX core

Mixed-oxide (MOX) fuels will be utilized as reload fuels in some existing commercial boiling water reactors (BWRs) in Japan around the year 2000. The first step MOX fuel is expected to have an average discharge exposure of 33 GWd/t and to be loaded within one-third of all fuel rods in a core. On the other hand, it becomes necessary to minimize the number of MOX fuels and plants utilizing MOX fuel, mainly because of fuel economy, handling, and site inspection costs. Under these situations, it is important to develop higher burnup MOX fuel containing more plutonium and a core with a larger amount of MOX fuel. The purpose of this study is to clarify the feasibility of high-burnup MOX fuel and core through the evaluation of nuclear characteristics.