In Seversk, Tomsk Region, a nuclear fuel fabrication/refabrication module (MFR) for the innovative fast neutron reactor BREST-OD-300 was put into pilot operation. This is the first of three facilities of the Fourth Generation Experimental Demonstration Power Complex (PDEC), which is unique in the global nuclear industry, which is being built as part of the strategic industry project “Proryv” on the territory of the Siberian Chemical Plant (SGChE, an enterprise of the Fuel Division of Rosatom).
The ultra-modern and fully automated production has already successfully manufactured the first prototype fuel cartridges in the design of the BREST-OD-300 core with fuel pellets made of depleted uranium nitride. All production areas of the new plant have undergone comprehensive testing. In total, four production lines were created at the MFR: carbothermic synthesis of mixed uranium and plutonium nitrides, production of fuel pellets, production of fuel elements, as well as assembly of complete fuel assemblies. The number of the main technological personnel of the facility will be 250 people.
Currently, the production is developing a technology for fabricating BREST-OD-300 fuel assemblies with a fuel composition based on depleted uranium in accordance with the current license of Rostekhnadzor dated March 29, 2024. After the regulator approves the management of plutonium, Siberian nuclear scientists will be able to start producing the target product of the MFR – mixed dense nitride uranium-plutonium fuel (MUPN fuel), which will make it possible to fully use all the advantages of Russian fuel, reactor and radiochemical technologies of the fourth generation. For the initial loading of the reactor, more than 200 fuel assemblies with MUPN fuel will have to be manufactured.
“To date, Rosatom has advanced the furthest in the world in the development of fourth-generation nuclear technologies. According to the IAEA classification, this implies a higher efficiency in the use of uranium fuel raw materials, increased safety standards for the operation of nuclear facilities, as well as a significant reduction in the volume of nuclear waste. All these principles are fully consistent with the technological solutions adopted by the PDEC for depleted uranium and plutonium fuel, and for the BREST reactor plant based on the principles of natural safety, and for the latest more efficient radiochemistry technologies for the reprocessing of irradiated fuel,” commented Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation.
