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Rosatom makes step towards complete nuclear fuel cycle
14.12.2018
A production batch of fuel rod arrays for the fast-neutron reactor BN-800 based on the uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel has successfully passed qualification tests, BelTA has learned. The fuel was made by the integrated mining and chemical plant FGUP GKhK in the city of Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russia.
The fuel will be used by the fourth unit of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant. The fact that it has passed qualification tests indicates that the Russian nuclear industry has made the first practical step towards closing the nuclear fuel cycle, believes Alexander Uvarov, editor-in-chief of the nuclear news website Atominfo.ru.
Earlier this week TVEL Fuel Company dropped the news that a batch of the first fuel rod arrays based on the uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel had successfully passed qualification tests. The fuel was made by the FGUP GKhK enterprise. The facility to make fuel was built with assistance of over 20 Russian nuclear industry companies.
According to Alexander Uvarov, the first practical step towards closing the nuclear fuel cycle has been made. The fuel mix uses reactor plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel. Making a batch of fuel rod arrays for reloading a reactor will be the next step.
The fourth unit of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant was commissioned in 2016. It is used to practice a number of technologies the closing of the nuclear fuel cycle using “fast” reactors requires. It is also used to demonstrate operation using industrial mixed oxide fuel. The fuel mix relies on depleted uranium and plutonium, which is extracted from spent nuclear fuel of thermal neutron reactors, which make up the core of the modern nuclear energy industry.
By closing the nuclear fuel cycle, it will be possible to increase the availability of nuclear fuel. It will also be possible to reduce the volume of radioactive waste by “burning” dangerous radionuclides. Experts believe Russia is the world’s leader as far as technologies for building fast-neutron reactors are concerned.
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