Each of the 6 fuel bundles of the standard TVS-2M model fully consists of REMIX fuel rods with uranium-plutonium pellets instead of the traditional enriched uranium dioxide.
The fuel pellets had been manufactured at Mining and Chemical Combine, Rosatom’s facility in Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk region.
The complete REMIX fuel bundles will undergo a full operation cycle in one of the Russia’s VVER-1000 reactors.
Earlier, in 2021, 3 fuel bundles, each containing 6 REMIX fuel rods, completed the irradiation programme at the Balakovo NPP.
Such approach fully complies with the international practice of innovative nuclear fuel introduction.
At 1st, a reactor core is loaded with several bundles, each containing a few rods with the new fuel among the standard ones (the so called Lead Test Rods, or LTR programme).
The next stage is loading several assemblies, fully consisting of the new type rods (Lead Test Assemblies, or LTA programme).
Alexander Ugryumov, VP for Research, Development and Quality at TVEL, commented:
- The LTR programme at the Balakovo NPP was sussessfully completed in 2021, now we are looking forward to the post-irradiation studies
- Meanwhile, the full cycle of the 6 lead test assemblies operation will give us more information about REMIX fuel behavior in the core and its influence on reactor physics
- Thus, we would obtain the necessary data for licensing full refueling of the core with REMIX assemblies, as well as a reference experience for commercialization and introduction of such fuel
