Fuel-type clustering for DUPIC fuel composition heterogeneity analysis

In the DUPIC fuel cycle, the spent pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel is reused in a Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) reactor. Depending on the initial condition and burnup history of PWR fuel, the DUPIC fuel composition varies accordingly. In Korea, there are {approximately}2910 spent PWR fuel assemblies (1994 numbers). Modeling all 2910 fuel types in CANDU core analysis is impractical because of too much computing effort and limitations in the core analysis code. In this study, a clustering technique was introduced to find the smallest number of spent PWR fuel types to be modeled in the core analysis without losing the physical importance represented by peak channel and bundle powers.