OREANDA-NEWS Rosatom specialists manufactured experimental samples of unique anti-accident (tolerant) nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants. In the near future it will be loaded for study in the research reactor "MIR" research Institute of nuclear reactors (SSC NIIAR, part of the scientific division of Rosatom"), said on Thursday the press service of the fuel company TVEL.

"At the Novosibirsk plant of chemical concentrates (part of TVEL) two experimental fuel assemblies (FA) with tolerant nuclear fuel for water-water power reactors (Russian design) and PWR (reactors of Western design) pilot samples of Russian tolerant fuel have been factory tested, as well as acceptance by the industry Commission and shipped to the city of Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk region, where in the near future they will be loaded into the research reactor MIR in SSC NIIAR for reactor tests," the report said.

Experimental fuel assemblies consist of fuel elements (fuel rods) with four different combinations of materials. There are no analogues of such fuel in the country and in the world.

Tolerant fuel is resistant to severe accidents at nuclear power plants. It must maintain its integrity during complex accidents at nuclear power plants and not lead to so-called zirconium-steam reactions, in which stands out explosive hydrogen.

"After the first stage of reactor tests and post-reactor studies, a significant amount of work will be carried out to select the optimal combination of materials of tolerant fuel and substantiate the neutron-physical characteristics of the active zones of water-water reactors. The next important stage will be the loading into the power reactor of one of the Russian NPP experimental fuel assemblies with individual fuel rods in a tolerant design. After completion of the pilot commercial operation of the nuclear company TVEL will be able to bring to the world market tolerant fuel of the Russian production", - the press service quoted the Vice-President on scientific and technological activities of TVEL Alexander Ugryumova.

TVEL includes enterprises for fabrication of nuclear fuel, conversion and enrichment of uranium, production of gas centrifuges, as well as research and development organizations. It is the only supplier of nuclear fuel for Russian nuclear power plants and provides nuclear fuel to 72 power reactors in 14 countries, research reactors in eight countries, as well as transport reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet.