Improvements in In-Bay Irradiated Fuel Inspection Planning & Analysis at Bruce Power

Abstract

This paper describes improvements in irradiated fuel inspection planning & analysis implemented at Bruce Power since 2012. A review of inspection plans and fuel performance reports since 2001 identified significant variations in how irradiated fuel bundles were selected for inspection from year-to-year. A series of inspection tasks were established in an inspection logic and technical basis document. Inspection objectives and bundle selection criteria were defined for each task. These requirements, along with resource availability are now used to prepare a fuel inspection plan each year. The inspection results are then considered in the context of the analysis objectives for each task. The inspection results are presented in brief monthly updates and in-depth semi-annual reports in addition to the Annual Fuel Performance Reports. These changes have improved the effectiveness, consistency and efficiency of Bruce Power’s fuel performance monitoring.