Rosatom has begun pilot operation of nuclear fuel with minor actinides
For the first time, fuel assemblies with MOX fuel containing americium and neptunium were loaded into the “fast” reactor FN-800 at Beloyarsk NPP (Press Release 08.07.2024).
At power unit No. 4 of Beloyarsk NPP, fuel assemblies with uranium-plutonium MOX fuel were loaded into the fast neutron reactor FN-800 for the first time, to which the so-called minor actinides were added - the most radiotoxic and long-living components contained in irradiated nuclear fuel. The loading of fuel into the reactor core took place after agreement with the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor), which confirmed safety of the innovative assemblies’ operation. After scheduled maintenance, the power unit resumed operation.
Three experimental MOX-FAs containing americium-241 and neptunium-237 were manufactured and passed acceptance at the Rosatom Mining and Chemical Combine at the end of 2023. In the FN-800 reactor they will undergo pilot-industrial operation during three micro-campaigns (approximately one and a half years). “The next micro-campaign of the FN-800 reactor should experimentally confirm the possibility of recycling minor actinides on an industrial scale. The ability to eliminate minor actinides is an advantage of fast neutron reactors, which makes it possible to reduce the volume of radioactive waste from the entire infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle of NPP operation,” noted Beloyarsk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov.
At power unit No. 4 of Beloyarsk NPP, fuel assemblies with uranium-plutonium MOX fuel were loaded into the fast neutron reactor FN-800 for the first time, to which the so-called minor actinides were added - the most radiotoxic and long-living components contained in irradiated nuclear fuel. The loading of fuel into the reactor core took place after agreement with the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor), which confirmed safety of the innovative assemblies’ operation. After scheduled maintenance, the power unit resumed operation.
Three experimental MOX-FAs containing americium-241 and neptunium-237 were manufactured and passed acceptance at the Rosatom Mining and Chemical Combine at the end of 2023. In the FN-800 reactor they will undergo pilot-industrial operation during three micro-campaigns (approximately one and a half years). “The next micro-campaign of the FN-800 reactor should experimentally confirm the possibility of recycling minor actinides on an industrial scale. The ability to eliminate minor actinides is an advantage of fast neutron reactors, which makes it possible to reduce the volume of radioactive waste from the entire infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle of NPP operation,” noted Beloyarsk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov.
