The Siberian Chemical Plant (SCP) issued an assembly with nitride fuel for BN-600 reactor

22.09.2014

Acceptance test of the first full-scale fuel assembly TVS-4 with nitride fuel was conducted at the chemical and metallurgical plant Siberian Chemical Plant, OJSC (a part of Rosatom Fuel company TVEL). This is the result of joint operations of SCP and some other sector institutes.

Vladimir Troyanov, Chief Process Engineer of “Proryv” ('Breakthrough') Project, is the acceptance commission chairperson. The commission included representatives of some leading scientific and industrial enterprises of Rosatom, Fuel company TVEL, Beloyarskaya NPP.

This assembly is designed to load the fast-neutron reactor BN-600 – the third block of Beloyarskaya NPP. This assembly has a significant mission – conducting tests for further decision making on the option of nitride fuel operation in new generation reactors.  

Vladimir Troyanov, Chief Process Engineer in “New Process Platforms” project within the framework of Federal Target Program “New Generation Nuclear Energy Technologies” pointed out that what is made at SCP today is one of the fundamental steps of the great work performed by a number of scientific and production companies, and by the specialists of the Siberian Chemical Plant.

The Commission Chairperson pointed out: “The first full-scale assembly of BN-600 reactor is the first step to development of the closed fuel cycle for fast-neutron reactors. Besides, this product has so many new design features that we can easily call it innovative. For example, used materials increase resistance to radiation damage which makes it possible to increase their operating life, and consequently, enhance the fast-neutron reactors economics. But the most important difference is the mixed nitride fuel produced at SCP”.

It should be noted that scientists link their hopes for the commercial feasibility of the so-called fast reactors and closed fuel cycle with this particular type of the fuel.
As Vladimir Troyanov said that the unit's complete inspection was performed in place to check the product’s compliance with the declared parameters. According to the Commission members’ estimates the assembly was executed with high quality that proves once more the high qualification of the plant specialists that took part in its manufacturing. After the documentation analysis the final conclusions will be made and a decision will be taken on using the assembly in  operating conditions of Beloyarskaya NPP.

Sergey Tochilin, General Director of SCP, OJSC, commented on the event and highlighted that the production of the first heat-emitting assembly with its own design at the plant is a true historic event by Russian standards. The product is unique and it has no analogs in the world.

SCP Director stated: “Development of TVS-4 at SCP is one of the key steps of fuel substantiation for the fast-neutron reactors, which represent the future of the modern nuclear power industry. It is encouraging that this is the product of common efforts not only of the Siberian Chemical Plant but also of many companies of the sector which became a united team and put their intellect, powers and heart to implementation of this part of the project. I hope that Rosatom Commission will give positive evaluation to our efforts and it will give the SCP team more powers and confidence in the ability to produce the next product, TVS-5, for reactor BREST-OD-300.

Let us remind that Rosatom is implementing an ambition project “Proryv” ('Breakthrough') at the Siberian Chemical Plant. The project is aimed at setting a new process platform of the nuclear sector with a closed nuclear fuel cycle and at solving the problems of nuclear waste and RAW. The result of the project shall be development of a competitive product which will be able to provide leadership of Russian technologies in the world nuclear power industry. One of the project areas is construction of testing and demonstration complex as part of reactor BREST-OD-300 with the station nuclear fuel cycle and a uranium-plutonium (nitride) production complex for fast-neutron reactors. Production and acceptance tests of the full-scale fuel assembly with TVS-4 marking can be considered one of the first steps of this large-scale project.

It should also be noted that since August 2014 nitride fuel production unit construction operations started at SCP. Its commissioning is planned for 2017-2018. The fuel produced at the plant will go to the testing and demonstration reactor BREST-OD-300. The start of the reactor construction operations is planned next year; its completion is planned for 2020, which will be the second step. The third step will be construction of one more plant engaged in processing (refabrication) of the spent fuel. “Proryv”('Breakthrough') Project at SCP shall start its full-scale operation in 2023.

The Siberian Chemical Plant, OJSC (Seversk) includes five plants processing nuclear materials. One of the main areas of operation at SCP is satisfying the needs of the nuclear power stations in uranium for nuclear fuel, generation of thermal and electric energy. It is a part of  Rosatom state corporation Fuel company TVEL.

Rosatom state corporation Fuel company TVEL is a part of the vertically integrated structure of Russian nuclear sector. Fuel company TVEL combines production and scientific assets in the field of nuclear fuel fabrication, separating-sublimating complex, as well as production of gas centrifuges and their accessories. Fuel company TVEL was established in order to achieve optimal management structure of nuclear fuel cycle companies, increase the efficiency of their operations and their competitive abilities in the global market.

Source: Press-Service of the Siberian Chemical Plant, OJSC
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