 |
||
|
Rosatom starts construction of unique power unit with BREST-OD-300 fast neutron reactor TVEL, PUBLISHED 08.06.2021 The construction of a 300 MW nuclear power unit with an innovative lead coolant BREST-OD-300 fast reactor has begun at the site of the Siberian Chemical Combine (an enterprise of Rosatom-subsidiary TVEL Fuel Company) in Seversk, Russia's Tomsk region (South-West Siberia). The reactor will run on mixed uranium-plutonium nitride fuel (MNUP fuel), specially developed for this facility (it is considered to be the optimal solution for fast reactors). The power plant will make an integral part of the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) - a cluster of three interconnected unique facilities, including the nuclear fuel production plant (for fabrication and refabrication), the BREST-OD-300 power unit, and the facility for irradiated fuel reprocessing. For the first time in history, a nuclear power plant powered by a fast reactor will be built alongside closed nuclear fuel cycle servicing enterprises on one site. After reprocessing, the irradiated fuel from the reactor will be sent for refabrication (i.e. reproduction into fresh fuel), thereby giving this system the means to gradually become practically autonomous and independent of external resources supplies. "The nuclear power industry's resource base will practically become inexhaustible thanks to the infinite reprocessing of nuclear fuel. At the same time, the future generations will be spared the problem of accumulating spent nuclear fuel. The successful implementation of this project will allow our country to become the world's first owner of the nuclear power technology which fully meets the principles of sustainable development in terms of environment, accessibility, reliability, and efficient use of resources. Today, we reaffirm our reputation as a leader in world progress in the nuclear technologies, that offers humanity unique solutions aimed at improving people's lives," said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom . The design of the BREST-OD-300 lead-cooled reactor is based on the principles of so-called natural safety. The features of the reactor made it possible to abandon the melt trap, a large volume of support systems, and also to lower the safety class of the non-reactor equipment. The integral design and physics of the reactor facility make enable to exclude accidents requiring evacuation of the population. In the future, such installations should not only enhance the safety of nuclear power, but also make it more economically competitive in comparison with the most efficient thermal power generation (in particular, steam-gas technology). "The implementation of the 'Breakthrough' project embraces not just development of innovative reactors, but also introduction of the new generation technologies of nuclear fuel cycle. Firstly, this includes production of dense nitride MNUP fuel, which will ensure the efficient operation of a lead-cooled fast reactor and consist entirely of recycled nuclear materials such as plutonium and depleted uranium. Secondly, this means more efficient and economically attractive radiochemical technologies for the processing of irradiated fuel and waste management. Taken together, they will make the nuclear power of the future in fact renewable with a practically waste-free production chain," said Natalia Nikipelova, President of Rosatom's TVEL Fuel Company. The event was attended by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, Tomsk regional governor Sergei Zhvachkin, Kurchatov Institute President Mikhail Kovalchuk, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, and other Russian and non-Russian guests. Russian Academy of Sciences President Alexander Sergeev and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Director General William Magwood sent in video addresses. According to the planned timeline, the BREST-OD-300 reactor should start operating in 2026. A fuel production facility will be built by 2023 and the construction of an irradiated fuel reprocessing module is scheduled to start by 2024. Other news: Construction of Akkuyu NPP Unit 3 Begins A ceremony commemorating the start of Unit 3 construction was held at the site of the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu. TVEL Elemash Machine-building plant launches new manufacturing site for CFR-600 fabrication The dummy fuel bundles for CFR-600 are already manufactured for testing. All spent fuel was unloading from SFP-3 at Fukushima Daiichi NPP SFP-3 and SFP-4 are free of fuel now. |
Hero of the day 
Unit 6 of Leningrad NPP commissioned for commercial operation On March 22, 2021, VVER-1200 reactor-enabled Unit 6 was commissioned at the Leningrad NPP. Andrey Petrov, Director General of Rosenergoatom (part of the Electric Power Division of ROSATOM), signed the corresponding order. INTERVIEW
Vladimir Kriventsev OPINION
Victor Murogov |