Fuel. The Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (part of Rosatom’s fuel division) commissioned a Russian-designed chrome plating machine for the application of chrome coatings to conventional fuel cladding tubes made of zirconium alloy. A pilot batch of Cr-plated cladding tubes was produced, with protective coating applied by spraying. Adhesion, structure and thickness of the coating was analyzed using special testing equipment. Chromium is one of the optional materials that can be used to make the next generation of safe nuclear fuels, the so-called advanced technology fuel (ATF).

“With the fuel tube chrome plating machine commissioned, it is now possible to manufacture a number of complete ATF fuel assemblies. Their pilot operation in a large power reactor will be the final step in qualification and making a decision on commercial production of Russian ATF fuel,” said Alexander Ugryumov, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at TVEL.