Equilibrium thorium fuel loading in VVER-1000 reactor

Thorium can be utilized in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) as ThO₂ fuel matrix supported by fissile materials. In this analysis, VVER-1000 reactor was taken as a representative of the PWR reactor group. The thorium fuel matrix was mixed with fissile material in form of pure ²³³U, enriched uranium (19.7 % enrichment) and Reactor-Grade plutonium. Whole fuel cycles were analysed by ANDREA nodal code with diffusion data prepared by HELIOS calculations. Equilibrium fuel loadings were achieved for all fuel composition for four different lengths of fuel loadings reaching from 4×12 months to 5×18 months. The process of reaching the equilibrium loadings, fissile material requirements, and fundamental operational parameters are presented.