High-enrichment fuel in VVER

The results of a search for the optimal water-uranium ratio for VVER with no changes to the fuel elements and assemblies are presented. It is shown that decreasing the volume of a fuel pellet while maintaining the same 235 U load as a result of increasing the enrichment will decrease the specific consumption of uranium and increase the run time. The proposed modifications to the fuel can be implemented in operating reactors and advanced VVER designs.