Fuel loading pattern with 50% MOX fuel in HPR1000 core

Fuel loading pattern optimization with MOX (mixed oxide of plutonium and uranium) fuel is an important aspect for GIII LWR. For the HPR1000 core, an optimized MOX fuel is designed. Based on which, two loading patterns with 50% MOX fuel are designed. One is 1/4 core annually reloading pattern, and the other is 18-month reloading pattern. The core neutronic parameters are investigated by comparing with the 100% UO2 core. The MOX fuel has impacts on the nuclear characteristic parameters, but the 50% MOX core still satisfies the nuclear and safety criteria samilar to that considered in 100% UO2 core. The results of this study prove that the GIII LWR HPR1000 has excellent capability while loading with 50% MOX fuel.