Prismatic core high temperature reactor fuel modelling incorporating fuel rotation

•Fuel rotation in high temperature prismatic core reactors.•Several rotational scenarios were undertaken to optimise the fuel cycle.•The axial fuel rotation impeded the overall lifetime of the core.•The overall best performance saved 40.3% of the cost of fuel rotation. The use of prismatic-core High Temperature Reactors (HTRs), has not yet reached commercialisation, as they are few in operation, and mainly developmental in nature. This work examines numerous models for fuel rotation, thus enhancing and further optimising the fuel lifecycle of a generic HTR. Several rotational scenarios were examined both axially and radially, with radial rotations giving rise to the largest in life extension. Included in the model is a complex analysis of how TRistructural-ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel behaves in operando, increasing the reliably of the model in predicting the benefits of fuel rotation. Finally, an economic assessment was undertaken, which indicted that fuel costs could be reduced by 40.3%, further increasing its economic benefit and efficiency.