International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Engineering Volume 4 Issue 3, September 2014

doi: 10.14355/ijnese.2014.0403.01

www.ijnese.org

Fuel Thermo-Mechanical Performance during

Transient Events in Laguna Verde Nuclear
Power Plant with FETMA Code
Hector Hernandez-Lopez*1
Nuclear Systems Department, National Institute for Nuclear Research, Carretera Mexico-Toluca s/n, La marquesa,
Ocoyocac, Mexico, Mexico
hector.hernandez@inin.gob.mx

*1

Abstract
In the National Institute for Nuclear Research of Mexico, the
Fuel Management System (FMS) has been used for a long
time to simulate the operation a boiling water reactor of
nuclear power plant at steady state as well as transient
events. To evaluate the thermo-mechanical performance of
fuel rod during transient events, changes were made that
have been developed and implemented within the Institute
to Fuel Element Thermo-Mechanical Analysis code
(FETMA). The results of fuel rods thermo-mechanical
behavior in hot channel for simulation of transient events of
a boiling water reactor are shown. The transient events
considered for this job are a load rejection and failure of
feedwater control, which are some of the major events that
can occur in a BWR. The results showed that the conditions
that lead to failure of the fuel rod at no time appeared for
both events. Furthermore, we show that the transient load
rejection is more demanding in terms of safety than the
failure of feedwater controller.
Keywords
Fuel Rod; Transient Events; BWR Reactor

Introduction
In the National Nuclear Research Institute (Instituto
Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, ININ) in Mexico, a
thermo-mechanical analysis code of fuel elements has
been developed for some time. The code is called Fuel
Element Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (FETMA) (2012,
Hernandez), in which temperature profiles can be
calculated in the axial and radial directions as well as
the mechanical performance of the materials
constituting the fuel rods. FETMA is currently used to
study the behavior of fuel elements loaded in both
boiling water reactors (BWR) of Laguna Verde Nuclear
Power Plant (LVNPP) by the ININ.
Several codes have been developed by research and
industry laboratories. However, most codes have been

developed to fuel pressurized water reactors. While

boiling water reactors only have the following:
FRAPCON-2 code developed by Department of
Energy of United States of America (DOE) (1981,
Berna, et al), the FEMAXI-VI code system (2006,
Suzuki) and RODBURN (1993, Uchida & Saito) are a
development for the Atomic Energy Agency of Japan
(JAEA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is
developing the TRANSURANIUM code (1992,
Lassmann) (2011, Lassmann, et al) and in the case of
each manufacturer, they have developed their own
tools and their use is restricted.
Of the three codes mentioned above, ININ only has
access to FRAPCON and FEMAXI-VI & RODBURN
codes; these codes do not have the ability to perform
analysis of the behavior during the evolution of
transient events. For this reason it requires tools which
they can verify independent assessments with, and
confirm what is indicated by the manufacturer. Thus,
it is necessary to have a code to evaluate the
performance of the fuel rods with.
For several years of Scandpower, ININ has also used
fuel management system codes (FMS) for the
simulation of BWR reactors, especially LVNPP
reactors. The FMS is composed of three main codes:
HELIOS (1991, Casal, et al), for the generation of
nuclear databanks; CM-PRESTO (1996, Oa) which is
used for 3D simulation of the reactor core in steady
state, and RAMONA (1995, Ferri) which simulates the
behavior of the reactor core during transient events.
For this work we have developed and implemented
some changes FETMA in order to perform thermomechanical analysis of fuel elements during the
evolution of transient events, from the data obtained
from simulation of the event with RAMONA code.
In a previous work, we have shown the results of

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International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Engineering Volume 4 Issue 3, September 2014

thermo-mechanical analysis of fuel elements for

normal operation in steady state for LVNPP using
FETMA (2012, Hernandez). However, to have a more
complete fuel performance, it is necessary to make
some studies of transient events that could occur
during the operation of the Nuclear Power Plant. In
this document the fuel rods behavior during transient
events within hot channel is evaluated. Transient
events analyzed are load rejections and feedwater
controller failure; these events are considered among
the most important to the safety of a BWR reactor.
Code Description
FETMA code is a computer program which is divided
into three modules: a) Neutronic, b) Thermal and c)
Mechanical. The thermo-mechanical behavior code
evaluates the fuel rods under normal operating
conditions with the reactor in steady-state. Currently,
changes are being made to the code in order to be
employed in the analysis during the evolution of
transient events.
In the neutronic module, the code solves the diffusion
equation with six energy groups in order to have a
better estimate with regards to neutron flux energies
above 0.821 MeV and below 0.625 eV which are
responsible for the embrittlement of the cladding and
thermal power, respectively. The four remaining
energy groups correspond to the resonances of both
239Pu and 238U. In the case of analysis during
transient events this module is optional and the fast
neutron flux calculated by the RAMONA code is taken
into account. In this module, the kinetic point for the
next versions will be incorporated. On thermal
module, from the calculated power distribution on the
neutronic module radial and axial distributions of
temperature, thermal stresses both in the fuel and
cladding are calculated, as well as other phenomena
associated with the temperature distribution. In the
mechanical module, the strain caused by thermal
stress and by the pressure changes caused by the
amount of fission gases released from the fuel to the
gap are determined, as well as the pressure from fuel
to cladding, as consequence of the swelling in the
pellet, and the strain cladding produced by the
neutron flux with energy greater than 0821 MeV.
Methodology
Firstly, it is necessary to perform the simulation of
reactor operating at steady state, from the beginning of
the cycle to the point where transient events begin

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with the CM-PRESTO code, using actual operating

conditions of a nuclear power plant, from data
obtained for average power, burned and thermal
neutron flux of each fuel element.
Secondly, the RAMONA code is used to perform the
simulation of transient events, using the obtained data
as initial data in steady-state simulation. This will
determine the hot channel for the event. The data
obtained and subsequently used by FETMA code, is
the moderator temperature, the heat transfer
coefficient from the moderator and the average heat
flux that is obtained in the hot channel.
When the nuclear databank is generated with HELIOS,
the power factors are also obtained per rod in the
lattices that make up the fuel assembly; thus, it is
determined which rod is the hottest. With the above
parameters, the input data is constituted with regards
to the FETMA code; thus obtaining the radial
temperature distribution in the rod, as well as stress
and strain distributions in both the pellet and
cladding.
Procedure
Steady State
The nuclear power plant has two reactors at General
Electric boiling water reactor (BWR-5) MARK II
reactor core is composed of 444 fuel assemblies and
190 control rods, both units have a nominal power of
1931 MWt, electric power 644 MWe, coolant flow 7749
kg/s. Currently both reactors operate with cycles of 18
months and a plant factor of 90%.

FIGURE 1. BEHAVIOR REACTOR CORE BEFORE TRANSIENT

EVENTS.

Figure 1, shows the behavior of the thermal power and

coolant flow during the steady stage prior to the
simulation of transient events. Operation during this
cycle was considered an increase in a rated power of

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Engineering Volume 4 Issue 3, September 2014

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105%, without altering the flow of coolant.

Load Rejection

While starting the reactor transient events, it exhibited

a power of 99.60%, a flow rate of 97.9%, and an inlet
pressure of 99.88% in relation to the values of the
power increase. Values for reactor operating in the
starting transient events are shown in Table I.

The transient occurred because of a fast closing of the

control valves of the turbine, caused by a charge drop
in the generator originated by electrical disturbances
in the network to which the power plant was
connected.

Figure 2 shows the maximum values (1/4 core) burn

up level, thermal neutron flux once the hot channel
has determined at the start of the transient events,
while figure 3 shows the initial conditions of power
and flow of hot channel.

The fast closing of the control valves of the turbine,

besides activating the reactor SCRAM, tripping the
recirculation pumps and opening of the bypass valves
signals, causes a reduction of the steam volume
creating an increase in the pressure in the steam lines,
generating a compression wave that propagates
throughout the steam lines until reaching the reactor
core where the voids in the core are collapsed.

TABLE I. NOMINAL PARAMETERS FOR OPERATING THE REACTOR LVNPP

WHEN STARTING TRANSIENT EVENTS

Parameter
Thermal
Power [MW]
Coolant Flow
[Kg/s]
Inlet Pressure
[Bar]

Nominal

Uprate

Operation

1931

2027

2019

7749

7749

7586

70.0

70.0

69.92

The reduction in the void fraction causes an insertion

of positive reactivity to the core; the reactivity increase
causes a power rise, which again leads to a new
increase of the pressure until reaching a set point,
which opens the relief valves, and thus reducing the
pressure to the setting point at which the relief valves
close again. Depending on the initial condition, the
process of opening and closing these valves will repeat
periodically until the pressure of the reactor is
alleviated and it reaches a stable condition.
Feedwater Control Failure

FIGURE 2. BURNING MEAN VALUES AND RELATIVE POWER

IN THE CORE AT THE START OF TRANSIENT EVENTS.

A feedwater control failure results in an increase of the

pumps speed and a consequent increase in the reactor
water level. To compensate this increase, the other
pump is decelerated at minimum level of flow, and the
failed pump is not switched to manual control, in
order to control the reactor level. To take the reactor
into a safe operational zone, the recirculation flow was
varied and movement in the control rods pattern was
performed, to avoid a SCRAM.
Results
From the simulation results with the code RAMONA
transient events it can be observed, in both events, an
increase in the reactor power, caused by the positive
reactivity insertion during the development of
transient events is higher in the case of load rejection.
Figure 4, shows the behavior of maximum relative
power of fuel rod with higher heat flow in the hot
channel during the 90 sec. taken into account for
transient events.

FIGURE 3. THE INITIAL CONDITIONS IN THE HOT CHANNEL

Due to the increased power by positive reactivity

insertion, it results in an increase in the average
maximum temperature that reaches the hot channel,

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International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Engineering Volume 4 Issue 3, September 2014

which is shown in Figure 5; also observing that the

same behavior occurs for power, reaching once again
the maximum during the event of load rejection.
Fuel rod temperature profile determined by FETMA.
Figure 6 shows the behavior of maximum temperature
for the events analyzed, observing that in the case of
load rejection if the maximum temperature is 2300C,
whereas the failure to control feedwater temperature
maximum is 2200C. Both values are still far from the
value of the melting temperature of UO2.

FIGURE 4. RELATIVE POWER IN HOT CHANNEL FOR BOTH

TRANSIENT EVENTS.

FIGURE 5. AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IS REACHED

INSIDE THE HOT CHANNEL DURING TRANSIENT EVENTS.

FIGURE 6. TEMPERATURE OF THE FUEL ROD IN HOT

CHANNEL EVALUATED IN BOTH TRANSIENT EVENTS.

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Furthermore, the linear heat generation in the fuel rod

for both events tested is shown in Figure 7. In both
cases, the ratio of linear heat generation is about 410
W/cm, which is set as a value that could lead to failure
of the fuel rod.
Figures 8 and 9 show both radial strains at the inner
surface and outer cladding respectively stressing the
strains that are less than 1%, so it can be said that no
failure occurs in the fuel.

FIGURE 7. LINEAR HEAT GENERATION RATE IN THE FUEL

ROD DURING TRANSIENT EVENTS.

FIGURE 8. MAXIMUM RADIAL STRAIN ON THE INNER

SURFACE OF THE CLADDING, DURING THE EVOLUTION OF
TRANSIENT EVENTS.

FIGURE 9. MAXIMUM RADIAL STRAIN ON THE OUTER

SURFACE OF THE CLADDING, DURING THE EVOLUTION OF
TRANSIENT EVENTS.

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Conclusions

for the Calculation of Steady State Thermal-Mechanical

According to the results obtained with FETMA code,

based on the simulation of transient events with the
RAMONA code, indications are not observed to
determine the fuel precursor fault, since in no case the
established values are reached as limits. The results
shown for RAMONA should be considered; these
values correspond to the average values of the entire
assembly while FETMA represents the values of a
single rod.

Behavior of Oxide Fuel Rods," NUREG/CR-1845 R3.

Unfortunately, a comparison parameter is nonexistent

with other experimental values as mentioned above;
access to codes is not possible with the ability to
evaluate the thermo-mechanical behavior during
transient events. However, this is a first iteration in the
development of our own analysis tool.
REFERENCES

Casal J J, et al, (1991) HELIOS: Geometric capabilities of a

new fuel assembly program, ITMAMCRP Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, April28-May 2, 1991, 2, 10.2.1 1-13.
Ferri A., (1995) RAMONA-3 User Manual, Scandpower.
G.A. Berna, M.P. Bohn, W.N. Rausch, R.E. Williford, and

Hernandez-Lopez H.; (2012)FETMA: A Simple Code for

Thermo-Mechanical Analysis on BWR Fuel Rods; IJNESE
Vol. 2 No. 3 2012; www.ijnese.org, World Academic
Publishing.
Lassmann K (1992). TRANSURANUS: a fuel rod analysis
code ready for use, Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol.
188, pp. 295-302.
Lassmann K., Schubert A., Van Uffelen P., Gyri C., van de
Laar J. (2011). TRANSURANUS Handbook, Copyright
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