16.03.2023
Press services of TVEL JSC and the Rostov NPP
The second cycle of operation of "tolerant" nuclear fuel ATF of a new generation of safety began at power unit No. 2 of the Rostov NPP
Power unit No. 2 of the Rostov NPP (branch of Rosenergoatom, Electric Power Division of the State Corporation Rosatom) began the second cycle of operation of fuel elements of a new generation of safety fuel (ATF - Advanced Technology Fuel, also called "tolerant" fuel - Accident Tolerant Fuel).
In 2021, three combined fuel assemblies of the TVS-2M design were loaded into the reactor core, each of which contains 12 innovative fuel rods. Six fuel elements are made using chromium-nickel alloy 42KhNM as a structural material and 6 fuel rods - with shells made of zirconium alloy with a chromium coating. This technological solution makes it possible to either completely exclude or significantly slow down the development of the steam-zirconium reaction in the nuclear reactor core in case of an emergency.
“Fuel replacement at nuclear power plants is performed during the period of scheduled repair campaigns. Fuel elements of a new generation of safety were loaded into power unit No. 2 of the Rostov NPP 18 months ago. They operated normally, and now, after the completion of the next repair campaign, the second of the three work cycles provided for at the stage of pilot operation has begun for them. Today the goal of Russian industry is to provide technological sovereignty and the transition to the latest technologies as soon as possible. Innovative technologies of Rosatom, an example of which is tolerant fuel, are based on the advanced achievements of Russian science and are aimed at improving safety and further developing the domestic nuclear power industry,” said Andrey Salnikov, director of the Rostov NPP.
“In 2023, a pilot plant for applying chromium coatings to shells made of a traditional zirconium alloy should be commissioned at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant in Glazov. While fuel assemblies with experimental fuel rods in "tolerant" design will be undergoing a test program at the Rostov NPP, we will already begin to manufacture fuel rods with chrome-plated cladding in sufficient quantities to fabricate several full-fledged fuel assemblies - their operation in a high-power power reactor will be the next, already final a step towards the qualification, commercialization and widespread introduction of Russian ATF fuel,” said Alexander Ugryumov, senior vice president for research and technology activities of TVEL JSC.
At the same time, JSC "SSC RIAR" is implementing a large-scale program of testing a wide range of different fuel cladding materials and ATF fuel pellets in the MIR research reactor. In 2022, the research program was expanded: reactor tests of new fuel elements with uranium-silicide fuel of VVER and PWR sizes began.
In the Fuel Company of Rosatom "TVEL", the main research and development work on the creation of innovative types of fuel is done and coordinated by VNIINM named after V.I. A.A. Bochvar.
For reference:
ATF (Advanced Technology Fuel, also called "tolerant" fuel - Accident Tolerant Fuel) is a nuclear fuel that is resistant to emergency situations at nuclear power plants. Even in the event of a loss of coolant and disruption of heat removal in the reactor core, the tolerant fuel must retain its integrity for a sufficiently long time without the occurrence of a steam-zirconium reaction that promotes hydrogen evolution. The introduction of emergency fuel is of key importance for bringing the system safety and reliability of the nuclear power industry to a qualitatively new level.
In 2021, three combined fuel assemblies of the TVS-2M design were loaded into the reactor core, each of which contains 12 innovative fuel rods. Six fuel elements are made using chromium-nickel alloy 42KhNM as a structural material and 6 fuel rods - with shells made of zirconium alloy with a chromium coating. This technological solution makes it possible to either completely exclude or significantly slow down the development of the steam-zirconium reaction in the nuclear reactor core in case of an emergency.
“Fuel replacement at nuclear power plants is performed during the period of scheduled repair campaigns. Fuel elements of a new generation of safety were loaded into power unit No. 2 of the Rostov NPP 18 months ago. They operated normally, and now, after the completion of the next repair campaign, the second of the three work cycles provided for at the stage of pilot operation has begun for them. Today the goal of Russian industry is to provide technological sovereignty and the transition to the latest technologies as soon as possible. Innovative technologies of Rosatom, an example of which is tolerant fuel, are based on the advanced achievements of Russian science and are aimed at improving safety and further developing the domestic nuclear power industry,” said Andrey Salnikov, director of the Rostov NPP.
“In 2023, a pilot plant for applying chromium coatings to shells made of a traditional zirconium alloy should be commissioned at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant in Glazov. While fuel assemblies with experimental fuel rods in "tolerant" design will be undergoing a test program at the Rostov NPP, we will already begin to manufacture fuel rods with chrome-plated cladding in sufficient quantities to fabricate several full-fledged fuel assemblies - their operation in a high-power power reactor will be the next, already final a step towards the qualification, commercialization and widespread introduction of Russian ATF fuel,” said Alexander Ugryumov, senior vice president for research and technology activities of TVEL JSC.
At the same time, JSC "SSC RIAR" is implementing a large-scale program of testing a wide range of different fuel cladding materials and ATF fuel pellets in the MIR research reactor. In 2022, the research program was expanded: reactor tests of new fuel elements with uranium-silicide fuel of VVER and PWR sizes began.
In the Fuel Company of Rosatom "TVEL", the main research and development work on the creation of innovative types of fuel is done and coordinated by VNIINM named after V.I. A.A. Bochvar.
For reference:
ATF (Advanced Technology Fuel, also called "tolerant" fuel - Accident Tolerant Fuel) is a nuclear fuel that is resistant to emergency situations at nuclear power plants. Even in the event of a loss of coolant and disruption of heat removal in the reactor core, the tolerant fuel must retain its integrity for a sufficiently long time without the occurrence of a steam-zirconium reaction that promotes hydrogen evolution. The introduction of emergency fuel is of key importance for bringing the system safety and reliability of the nuclear power industry to a qualitatively new level.
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