Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

SPECIFICITY IN THE LICENSING PROCESS OF REDUCED ENRICHMENT IN THE BULGARIAN RESEARCH REACTOR

Marietta Vitkova, Ivan Gorinov
Nuclear Material and Physical Protection
Department Nuclear Regulatory Agency
1754 Sofia – Bulgaria

ABSTRACT
 

The presented paper considers some specific questions of the licensing process regarding the reconstruction of the Bulgarian IRT-2000 research reactor, which includes conversion to the low enriched fuel. This specificity has risen as a result of two facts. The design of the reactor reconstruction was made on the basis of the existing fresh 36% highly enriched fuel. But after finishing of the design process, this fresh highly enriched fuel was shipped back to Russia in the framework of the RERTR program. These facts have involved some changes in both – in the licensing and the design processes. Re-analysis of the neutronic and thermal-hydraulic calculations is required to be made on the base of the technical specifications of the new LEU fuel. To facilitate the licensing process the NRA has adopted regulatory acceptance criteria for approval of the reactor core design with LEU fuel.

---

---