METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CRITICITY OF A NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE INSTALLATION, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING URANIUM DIOXIDE POWDER, REACTOR FUEL BAR, AND FUEL ASSEMBLY

摘要

A method of controlling the criticality of a nuclear fuel cycle facility includes steps of producing a reactor fuel by adding less than 0.1% by weight of gadolinia to a uranium dioxide powder with a uranium enrichment of greater than 5% by weight and controlling the effective neutron multiplication factor of a uranium dioxide system in a step of handling the reactor fuel to be less than or equal to the maximum of the effective neutron multiplication factor of a uranium dioxide system with a uranium enrichment of 5% by weight.