NUCLEAR POWER STATION USING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL RODS AS NEUTRON SOURCE AND USING THORIUM (Th) AS NUCLEAR FUEL

Abstract

In the present invention, a nuclear power plant using U235 as nuclear fuel is converted into a nuclear power plant that uses spent nuclear fuel rods as the Nt source and that uses Th as nuclear fuel. The nuclear power plant using U235 as nuclear fuel is converted into a nuclear power plant using Th as nuclear fuel.

Claims

1. A method for replacing fuel rods in a nuclear power station, the method comprising shutting down a nuclear power station being operated, replacing about a half of or a portion of fuel rods used in the nuclear power station by fuel rods containing Th as nuclear fuel, and operating the nuclear power station.

2. A method for replacing fuel rods in a nuclear power station, the method comprising, in a nuclear power station being shut down, refueling about a half of or a portion of fuel rods being used, loading, to remaining loading positions, fuel rods containing Th as nuclear fuel, and starting operation of the nuclear power station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] [FIGURE]

[0016] A sectional view of the present invention is the same as in the boiling or pressurized nuclear power plant.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the invention will be described. [0018] (i) In a case of a nuclear power plant to be shut down, the nuclear power plant is firstly shut down. Subsequently, about a half of or a portion of the nuclear fuel rods are unloaded. [0019] (ii) To the positions from which the fuel rods have been unloaded, fuel rods containing Th as nuclear fuel are loaded. [0020] (iii) In a case of a nuclear power plant being shut down, refueling is performed so as to correspond to about a half of or a portion of the spent nuclear fuel having been unloaded. [0021] (iv) To the vacant loading positions for fuel rods, fuel rods containing Th as nuclear fuel are loaded. [0022] (v) To the vacant loading positions for fuel rods, fuel rods containing Th as nuclear fuel are loaded. [0023] (vi) In both of the case of (i) and (ii) and the case of (iii) and (iv), operation is started as in the ordinary nuclear power plants using U235 as nuclear fuel.

[0024] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-017802 filed Jan. 4, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.