During the scheduled maintenance outage of unit 6 at Russia’s Novovoronezh NPP, a batch of innovative TVS-5 fuel (a fifth-generation fuel assembly) was loaded into the VVER-1200 reactor. The experimental fuel assemblies produced by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NZKhK – Novosibirskii Zavod KhimConsentratov), part of Rosatom’s fuel company TVEL, will undergo trial operation in an 18-month fuel cycle over three fuel campaigns.
The design features of the TVS-5 make it possible to manufacture VVER-1200 cassettes in a fully automated mode, which is necessary for industrial production of uranium-plutonium fuel for VVER reactors as part of the strategic transition to two-component closed nuclear fuel cycle.
“One of the tasks of closing the nuclear fuel cycle in the formation of a two-component nuclear energy system is the introduction of fuel from regenerated nuclear materials, including for classical thermal neutron reactors,” said Alexander Ugryumov, Senior Vice President for Scientific and Technical Activities at TVEL. “The solution to this problem requires the creation of industrial production, which must be fully automated, as happens during the fabrication of fuel for “fast” reactors. The start of operation of the TVS-5 at the Novovoronezh NPP is a necessary step to justify the production of such a design on an industrial scale. This is an important milestone achieved through the joint efforts of specialists from Rosatom’s Fuel, Energy, and Machine-building divisions,”
The trial operation of TVS-5 will be carried out using a fuel composition based on standard enriched uranium dioxide in accordance with the terms of the licence from Rostechnadzor and in strict coordination with the regulator.
“Novovoronezh NPP once again confirms its status as an advanced technology site. Loading fifth-generation fuel into the VVER–1200 reactor at unit No. 6 is an important stage in the development of a closed fuel cycle. We are actively involved in the implementation of Rosatom’s key projects, which make a significant contribution to the future of Russian nuclear energy and open up new opportunities for the entire industry,” said Vladimir Povarov, Director of Novovoronezh NPP.
