A simulation model for capacity planning of nuclear fuel plants for research reactors

Abstract

The demand for nuclear fuel for research reactors is increasing worldwide. However, some nuclear fuel factories have low production volumes. Literature regarding how to expand the capacity of those facilities in a safe and reliable way is scarce. Thus, the purpose of this work is to propose and validate a conceptual model for increasing the production capacity of such factories. The facilities addressed here are those that produce plate-type fuel elements loaded with LEU U3Si2-Al, which are typically used in nuclear research reactors. Data from a real nuclear fuel plant was collected and applied to the model, thus setting up a case study. Two different strategies, as well as several production scenarios, were conceived for the use of the model. Each scenario experiments with the different possibilities of enlarging capacity. Discrete events simulation was used in order to cover all production scenarios. The tests indicated significant increases in productive capacity, thus showing that the model fully achieved its proposed objective. One of the main conclusions to be highlighted is the model’s effectiveness, which was demonstrated by using the model in two different strategies and obtaining increases in capacity with both of them.