Nuclear fuel assemblies include non-symmetrical fuel elements with reduced lateral dimensions on their outer lateral sides that facilitate fitting the fuel assembly into the predefined envelope size and guide tube position and pattern of a conventional nuclear reactor. Nuclear fuel assemblies alternatively comprise a mixed grid pattern that positions generally similar fuel elements in a compact arrangement that facilitates fitting of the assembly into the conventional nuclear reactor.

A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.

A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.

A high temperature control rod for a nuclear fuel assembly is described herein that includes a neutron absorbing material having a melting point greater than 1500? C. that does not form a eutectic with a melting point less than 1500? C., and may further include a cladding material having a melting point greater than 1500? C. The cladding material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium, a zirconium alloy, tungsten, and molybdenum. The absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Ir, B.sub.4C, Re, and Hf. The metal cladding or the absorbing material may be coated with an anti-oxidation coating of Cr with or without a Nb intermediate layer.

Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are described and illustrated, and in some cases includes fuel elements each having a first fuel component of recycled uranium, and a second fuel component of at least one of depleted uranium and natural uranium blended with the first fuel component, wherein the blended first and second fuel components have a first fissile content of less than 1.2% wt of .sup.235U. Other fuel bundles are also described and illustrated, and include a first fuel element including recycled uranium, the first fuel element having a first fissile content of no less than 0.72 wt % of .sup.235U; and a second fuel element including at least one of depleted uranium and natural uranium, the second fuel element having a second fissile content of no greater than 0.71 wt % of .sup.235U.

Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are described and illustrated, and in some cases includes fuel elements each having a first fuel component of recycled uranium, and a second fuel component of at least one of depleted uranium and natural uranium blended with the first fuel component, wherein the blended first and second fuel components have a first fissile content of less than 1.2% wt of .sup.235U. Other fuel bundles are also described and illustrated, and include a first fuel element including recycled uranium, the first fuel element having a first fissile content of no less than 0.72 wt % of .sup.235U; and a second fuel element including at least one of depleted uranium and natural uranium, the second fuel element having a second fissile content of no greater than 0.71 wt % of .sup.235U.

A fuel assembly capable of linearizing change of an infinite multiplication factor of a fuel and flattening excess reactivity while increasing average fissile plutonium enrichment of a MOX fuel, and a reactor loaded with the fuel assembly can be provided. A fuel assembly includes first fuel rods containing Pu and not containing burnable poison, a second fuel rod containing uranium and burnable poison and not containing Pu, a water rod, and a channel box accommodating the first and second fuel rods and the water rod in a bundle. The second fuel rod is disposed on an outermost periphery and/or adjacent to the water rod, of a fuel rod array in a horizontal section, N2<N1 (N2 is a positive integer including zero) is satisfied where the number of the second fuel rods arranged on the outermost periphery is N1 and the number of the second fuel rods arranged adjacent to the water rod is N2, and W2<N2+W0<W1 (W2 is a positive integer including zero) is satisfied where the number of the second fuel rods arranged without being vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to each other in the horizontal section is W0, the number of the second fuel rods arranged vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to only one second fuel rod in the horizontal section is W1, and the number of the second fuel rods arranged vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to two second fuel rods in the horizontal section is W2, of the second fuel rods arranged on the outermost periphery.

A fuel assembly capable of linearizing change of an infinite multiplication factor of a fuel and flattening excess reactivity while increasing average fissile plutonium enrichment of a MOX fuel, and a reactor loaded with the fuel assembly can be provided. A fuel assembly includes first fuel rods containing Pu and not containing burnable poison, a second fuel rod containing uranium and burnable poison and not containing Pu, a water rod, and a channel box accommodating the first and second fuel rods and the water rod in a bundle. The second fuel rod is disposed on an outermost periphery and/or adjacent to the water rod, of a fuel rod array in a horizontal section, N2<N1 (N2 is a positive integer including zero) is satisfied where the number of the second fuel rods arranged on the outermost periphery is N1 and the number of the second fuel rods arranged adjacent to the water rod is N2, and W2<N2+W0<W1 (W2 is a positive integer including zero) is satisfied where the number of the second fuel rods arranged without being vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to each other in the horizontal section is W0, the number of the second fuel rods arranged vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to only one second fuel rod in the horizontal section is W1, and the number of the second fuel rods arranged vertically and/or horizontally adjacent to two second fuel rods in the horizontal section is W2, of the second fuel rods arranged on the outermost periphery.

A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor. The assembly includes a plurality of helically twisted fuel elements supported by a frame in a fuel rod bundle. Each of the fuel elements includes fissile material. When viewed in a cross-section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the outermost fuel elements of the fuel rod bundle define a substantially circular perimeter. The fuel elements are arranged in a mixed grid pattern that includes a first, rectangular grid pattern and a second, triangular grid pattern.

A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor. The assembly includes a plurality of helically twisted fuel elements supported by a frame in a fuel rod bundle. Each of the fuel elements includes fissile material. When viewed in a cross-section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the outermost fuel elements of the fuel rod bundle define a substantially circular perimeter. The fuel elements are arranged in a mixed grid pattern that includes a first, rectangular grid pattern and a second, triangular grid pattern.