At the Leypunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, tests of fuel for the new VVER-S reactor have been completed. Scientists have developed a two-stage experimental program on the BFS-1 stand. The first stage included preparation using traditional tablet technology, and the second, main stage, involved the use of a fragment of a typical reactor lattice.
Researchers carried out a physical start-up of a critical assembly for MOX fuel research. Before its start, a model of the critical assembly without nuclear materials was created, which passed inspection by the nuclear safety commission. Specialists assessed the readiness of all systems and personnel, as well as the control physical start-up program, after which they issued a permit for its implementation.
According to Alexander Zhukov, head of the BFS complex, after obtaining permission, the models were replaced with real fuel elements (nuclear reactor components) with energy plutonium. The scientists' tests open up new horizons for the development of nuclear energy in Russia and confirm the high qualification of Rosatom specialists.
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