Rosatom has begun reactor tests as part of a project to increase the enrichment of nuclear fuel, according to the press service of the state corporation's fuel division. The MIR.M1 research reactor, located at the Dimitrovgrad Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, is conducting the first tests of fuel for VVER reactors using erbium as a burnable neutron absorber and a uranium-235 enrichment level of approximately 5%. This represents a step forward compared to current international standards for power reactors, where enrichment typically does not exceed 4.95%.
The increased enrichment fuel tests are part of a phased project aimed at improving reactor performance. According to Rosatom specialists, the use of the new fuel will increase the duration of the reactor fuel cycle from 12–18 months to 24 months, which will reduce the frequency of power unit shutdowns for fuel replacement. This will not only increase the productivity of nuclear power plants, but also provide economic benefits by reducing the number of fresh fuel assemblies for a single load and potentially increasing reactor power.
The tests are scheduled for four annual irradiation cycles, and for the first time, VVER fuel with a uranium-erbium composition has been loaded into the MIR.M1 research reactor. The data obtained will allow the development of a technology for the serial production of such fuel, as well as justify its use at Russian-designed nuclear power plants.
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