Fuel cycles of WWER-440: results of basic design modification

This paper presents the current status of works performed to date to further upgrade fuel assemblies and fuel cycle of WWER-440 reactors, and also considers some innovations – both envisaged and implemented in practice – intended to improve their neutronic and operating parameters. Reactors were assumed to operate at 100% power in a steady-state refueling mode. Trial operation of third-generation fuel assemblies (FA-3), including a comparison between some calculated and measured results, is described as an example illustrating these new developments.