Rosatom started training specialists for the Proryv (Breakthrough) project
New department "Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle (NFC) Technology" within the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhi) have started training the specialists for the Rosatom Proryv (Breakthrough) Project, production site for which is being created in the Tomsk region.
As OJSC Siberian Chemical Plant press relations service reports a new master program called New Generation Nuclear Energy Technology was commissioned at the first meeting of the Closed NFC Technology department. A unique multidisciplinary department will become a talent foundry for Proryv (breakthrough) project, the most ambitious and demanded project in the world's energy industry. Fifteen graduates from the following profession-oriented Rosatom Universities were chosen to study Nuclear Physics and Technology: MEPhi, National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), University of Chemical Technology of Russia (RKhTU), Samara State University, Perm National University of Science and Technology and others.
Proryv will employ the specialists from various disciplines: reactor technology, radiochemistry, physics, engineering and design. The master undergraduates will be involved in specific projects that are being implemented within the Proryv project working on a new technology platform for nuclear energy.
Whatever we do today in nuclear power industry within the Proryv project to a large extent "rejects" historical rut, says Evgeny Adamov, the scientific supervisor and chairman of the Proryv project technical committee. - We are working on a completely different reactor that lack the hazards that exist today. The advantage of our reactors is the security level that will make nuclear energy industry the most secure and competitive"
By the end of September the Master Undergraduates will have to decide on their specialization (radiochemistry, nuclear technology and closed nuclear fuel cycle ecology, active zones neutronics of a fast-neutron reactor or fuel and materials for breeder reactors). They will also have to choose one of the plants on one of the Proryv responsibility centers to where they go for a paid internship and directly participate in creation of a new technology platform for nuclear energy industry. Each of the master undergraduates will work 12-13 hours a week and receive a salary.
As NIA Tomsk previously reported, in July 2014 OJSC Siberian Chemical Plant placed a preparatory phase contract for construction of the complex for production of the latest fuel for fast reactors at its production site in the Tomsk region.
The preparatory work is related to solution of such infrastructure issues as preparation of the site, installation of utility services, fencing of facilities, building roads, erection of temporary structures and namely the builders camp. Construction of the fuel production plant (first phase of the Proryv project) will begin in the year 2015 while commissioning is planned for 2017-2018.
The fuel produced there will arrive to the pilot demonstration reactor BREST-OD-300. The construction of the reactor is scheduled to begin in 2015 and be completed - in 2020, marking the completion of the second phase. Another plant for treatment (re-fabrication) of the spent fuel will be erected in the third phase. The Proryv project shall come into full swing by 2023.
Experiments on the creation of new fuel started at Siberian Chemical Plant with production of fuel elements (rods). The items have been accepted by the industry commission that noted the high quality of the manufacture. At present Siberian Chemical Plant is working on fuel assemblies for fast breeder reactors.
Four fuel assemblies consisting of the fuel elements produced by Siberian Chemical Plant are being tested. The plant plans to manufacture fuel assemblies of their own design and send them for testing in the third quarter of the current year.
The aim of the "Proryv" project is to create a closed nuclear fuel cycle and solve the problem of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The project shall result in a competitive product that will be able to ensure leadership of the Russian technology in the world's nuclear power industry. According to Atomic Expert magazine over 30 organizations including universities, the Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, state and private companies involving over 1700 people are working on the Proryv project.
