Scientists at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI have developed a new alloy for nuclear fuel for fast neutron reactors with a lead coolant. This was reported in the press service of the university.
Scientists at the Institute of Industrial Nuclear Technologies (IINT) of MEPhI have developed a new alloy based on lead with sodium "Svinatr". The new alloy is intended for use in nuclear fuel in IV generation reactors with fast neutrons with a lead coolant.
Experimental and computational studies have shown that the use of a liquid metal sublayer (LMS) will improve the characteristics of fuel elements (fuel rods) with nitride fuel for IV generation reactors. It is expected that the temperature of the new fuel will be lower while maintaining the coolant parameters, and the uranium-plutonium pellet will swell less and put pressure on the fuel rod cladding, which reduces the risk of depressurization. This, in turn, will increase both the economic efficiency and operational reliability of the fuel.
Fuel rods with LMS based on the new "Svinatra" alloy are for the first time becoming economically competitive with "classic" fuel rods for fast neutron reactors, which are usually filled with heat-conducting inert gases.
Currently, fuel assemblies with such LMS, manufactured on the basis of MEPhI, are being tested in the BOR-60 reactor at JSC "SSC RIAR" (Rosatom enterprise). In addition, scientists have developed and manufactured metallic sodium inserts to create a liquid metal sublayer in the new unique OS-5 fuel assembly.
Earlier www1.ru reported that a new alloy to improve the reliability of aircraft was created at BelSU.