Document: NUREG-0800
Document ID: 855b2438-2ddf-48e9-8762-e39097109e12
Document Type: srp
Title: FUEL SYSTEM DESIGN
Source: NUREG-0800
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0523/ML052340660.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 4
Section ID: 4.2
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
proved plants, a statement to that effect should be made. In that case, the details of the programs need not be included in the Safety Analysis Report, but an appropriate reference should be cited and a (tabular) summary should be presented. 2. On-line Fuel System Monitoring The applicant's on-line fuel rod failure detection methods should be reviewed. Both the sensitivity of the instruments and the applicant's commitment to use the instruments should be evaluated. References 32 and 33 evaluate several common detection methods and should be utilized in this review. Surveillance is also needed to assure that B4C control rods are not losing reactivity. Boron compounds are susceptible to leaching in the event of a cladding defect. Periodic reactivity worth tests such as described in Reference 34 are acceptable. 3. Post-irradiation Surveillance A post-irradiation fuel surveillance program should be described for each plant to detect anomalies or confirm expected fuel performance. The extent of an acceptable program will depend on the history of the fuel design being considered, i.e., whether the proposed fuel design is the same as current operating fuel or incorporates new design features. For a fuel design like that in other operating plants, a minimum acceptable program should include a qualitative visual examination of some discharged fuel assemblies from each refueling. Such a program should be sufficient to identify gross problems of structural integrity, fuel rod failure, rod bowing, or crud deposition. There should also be a commitment in the program to perform additional surveillance if unusual behavior is noticed in the visual examination or if plant instrumentation indicates gross fuel failures. The surveillance program should address the disposition of failed fuel. In addition to the plant-specific surveillance program, there should exist a continuing fuel surveillance effort for a given type, make, or class of fuel that can be suitably referenced by all