Оболочки для твэлов из карбида кремния планирует получить Росатом к 2030 году

Rosatom intends to create prototypes of silicon carbide fuel rod claddings by 2030 and fully introduce them into industrial production by 2045.

The deadlines are not shifting. The only change that has occurred is that we had to deal more extensively with the raw materials for these claddings, because such materials are not supplied to us from abroad, and, accordingly, we are now dealing with this issue as well. Within the framework of the federal project of the national project "New Nuclear and Energy Technologies," we are resolving all these issues. If we talk about the timing of the stable production of such fuel rods from our material with the required composition, provided by our technologies, from 2030 we will confidently have material that provides the necessary properties both in terms of strength and tightness, and, most importantly, in volume.

Alexey Dub, First Deputy Director of the institution "Science and Innovation"

The developed silicon carbide fuel rod claddings are designed to solve two critical nuclear reactor safety problems. Firstly, they will eliminate the possibility of reaching temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius and above. Secondly, they will prevent steam-zirconium reactions — exothermic processes in which zirconium interacts with water vapor, releasing hydrogen and heat. These reactions pose a serious threat in accidents, as overheating leads to contact of zirconium parts with water, which accelerates the development of the accident. It is expected that the transition to silicon carbide fuel rods will eliminate the need for some safety systems, which will make the construction of nuclear power plants more economical. In addition, they will improve the efficiency of reactors by increasing fuel burnup and its duration of use.