Thermal-mechanical Analysis of Annular Fuel in Comparison to Solid Fuel for CANDU Reactors

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis performed using ANSYS finite-element model to simulate the thermal and mechanical responses of annular fuel in comparison to solid fuel under equivalent power ramps at the same coolant conditions. Thermal simulations provided the fuel and sheath temperatures for both fuel designs under an equivalent power ramp while the mechanical simulations predicted fuel and sheath deformation. The results quantify the differences in thermal and mechanical responses between annular fuel and solid fuel designs.