Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1999 International RERTR Meeting

THE RUSSIAN RERTR PROGRAM WORKS STATUS

P. Lavreniuk, V. Chernyshov
JSC <<TVEL>>, Moscow

V. Aden, E. Kartashov, S. Bulkin, V. Likichev
RDIPE, Moscow

A. Aleksandrov, A. Enin
NCCP, Novosibirsk

V. Troianov, V. Popov
IPPE, Obninsk

P. Egorenkov, V. Nasonov
RRC KI, Moscow

Abstract

Currently the work under the Russian RERTR program is carried out in two fields:

The first field is the development of fuel elements and FAs of the VVR-M2, MR and IRT-4M type with the fuel enrichment of 19.7% based on the UO2-Al composition that has been already used in these FAs but with a higher uranium concentration of 2.5-3 g/cm3;

The second field is the development of a high-density fuel composition (HDF), and the development of fuel elements and FAs on its basis with the uranium concentration of >6 g/cm3.

The following work was done and is being underway in the first field:

Optimization neutronic and thermohydraulic analyses have been performed in RDIPE for the conversion of the research reactors in Czechia, Hungary and Poland to a low-enriched (19.7% in uranium-235) fuel of UO2-Al.

To substantiate the serviceability of FAs of the IRT-4M type with the uranium-235 loading of 300 g, 4 FAs have been manufactured at the Novosibirsk Plant and their testing will be started soon up to different burnup levels of 40-60% in a research reactor in Uzbekistan.