Status of the CABRI International Program and Preparation of the CIP0 Series

Status of the CABRI International Program and Preparation of the CIP0 Series J. Papin, C.Marquié, F.Lemoine, M.Faury, J.C. Melis Département de Recherches en Sécurité Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire CE Cadarache 13108 St Paul lez Durance France

The CABRI International Programme (CIP) is devoted to the study of reactivity initiated accidents of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and is now being launched by the “Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire” (IPSN)” with the collaboration of Electricité de France (EDF) in the frame of a broad international cooperation under the auspices of the OECD .Its main objectives are to provide under typical PWR conditions, bases for the assessment of new safety criteria and evaluation of safety margins relatively to the use of advanced alloys (Zirlo, M5, Duplex…), high burnup fuels and future fuel conceptions including MOX fuel. A special focus has been given to the preparation of the two tests of the CIP0 series to be performed in the CABRI sodium loop in 2002 with the specific objectives of giving a first answer on the behaviour of UO2 advanced fuel rods at higher burnup (75 GWd/tU) than the current values and providing a link between sodium loop and water loop tests (CIP-1). The CIP is now entering in its first experimental phase and will soon provide first results on advanced fuel behaviour under RIA .