Calculation of MCPR for BWR transients using the BNL plant analyzer

A class of transients of interest includes those from full power that involve some changes from the plant's technical specifications. These changes are allowed if it can be demonstrated that the effect on key parameters, such as the minimum critical power ratio (MCPR), is acceptable. Another class of transients is of interest for similar reasons, those that are initiated from the maximum extended operating domain (MEOD) or with partial feedwater heating. In the MEOD, the reactor conditions may be different from previous experience to increase the speed of the power ascension or obtain more power out of the core at end-of-cycle when the reactivity of the fuel is low. The critical power ratio (CPR) is used to determine the thermal limits of boiling water reactors (BWRs). In this study, CPRs for a series of transients run on the Brookhaven Plant Analyzer (BPA) have been calculated. The transients include nominal base case simulations; simulations with variations in relief valve setpoints and the number of failed feedwater heaters; simulations at the 100% power, 75% flow point on the extended load line of the MEOD; and a simulation with partial feedwater heating. The plant represented with the BPA is a BWR/4 rated atmore » 3293 MW with a 6.38-m vessel.« less