A chemical-engineering complex for mixed-oxide fuel production for fast breeder reactors has been started in a test mode in RIAR. Currently the program for fuel for the BN-800 start up, under construction at the Beloyarsk NPP site, is being realized. For this the RIAR went through technical re-equipping: old equipment replaced with new one within the bounds of the “New Generation nuclear technologies” Federal Target Program. The total cost of equipment, building and assembly works was about RUB 2 billion. “The development of these technologies lasted for about 30 years. Further we’ll use the equipment for fulfilling orders, – said Vladislav Kisliy, the Director of Chemical and Technological Department of RIAR. – In fact, we are unique to produce this kind of mixed fuel. Another production like this may be established at the Mining and Chemical Combine in Krasnoyarsk around 2015.
These days RIAR is the major and one of the largest in the world scientific and research entity in the nuclear industry to carry out system and production research related to topical trends of the nuclear power engineering development. There are 6 research reactors at the Institute. Three of them SM, MIR and BOR-60 are the unique reactor facilities. There is the largest complex for post-irradiation examinations of nuclear reactor core components, irradiated specimens and irradiated fuel samples in Europe. RIAR has got facilities for research work in the field of nuclear fuel cycle, radiochemical unit and radioactive waste management complex.
The advantage of multipurpose fast reactor (MBIR) is minimization of waste, since the reactors can return fuel to the cycle various times. It is planned to produce 1,5 tons of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel annually.
“Fast breeder reactor allow us to extract the return part from the fuel which already was inside a reactor, – explains Galina Pavlova, the RIAR Press-Office Chief. – This part may be used further. Both we and Americans used to possess excessive amount of nuclear weapons. Plutonium, which was part of those weapons, can be used for preparation of fuel for fast breeder reactors. Those kinds of reactors burn fuel and what is left can be returned to the cycle. This can be done various times. There is some waste, but little, it is stored deep under the ground. The task of the whole nuclear power generation industry is maximum usage of fuel”. According to Vladislav Kisliy, the enterprise lacks about 30 specialists. The total amount of process personnel is around 260 people. Today RIAR is the major research experimental complex for civil nuclear power generation industry. There are six research nuclear reactors operating, the largest complex for postirradiation examination of commercial reactors’ core-elements, a system complex for the nuclear fuel cycle R&D, radiochemical complex and radioactive waste handling complex.
