️ Russia has developed microsphere nuclear fuel for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). Specialists at JSC NII NPO LUCH, part of Rosatom’s scientific division, reported on tests at 1200 °C and 1600 °C and on the transition to experimental-industrial production during the VII International Scientific and Technical Conference “Innovative Projects and Technologies of Nuclear Energy” in Moscow on October 27–29. The event was organized by JSC NIKIET with support from Rosatom, the IAEA and the National Nuclear Society, and drew more than 320 specialists from Russia and abroad.
️ Key Takeaways: TRISO fuel underwent 13 reactor experiments at 1200 °C under normal conditions and at 1600 °C in accident-type scenarios; burnup reached approximately 13.0% t.a. An experimental production line at JSC NII NPO LUCH is designed to produce 250,000 fuel compacts per year.
️ In the section on nuclear fuel, coolants and new materials, Andrey Mokrushin, deputy director general for science at JSC NII NPO LUCH, presented details of the Russian microsphere fuel program. He said that during reactor tests the fuel burnup rate reached approximately 13.0% t.a. The reported results confirm the operability of the Russian TRISO fuel concept and mark a move from experimental samples toward an experimental-industrial technology.
️ TRISO fuel with a three-structure isotropic coating is important for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Each microsphere consists of a fuel kernel with multilayer protective coatings made of pyrocarbon (PyC) and silicon carbide (SiC). This design is intended to retain fission products inside the microspheres even in accident conditions at temperatures of up to 1600 °C, supporting the safety case for HTGR technology and its potential use in industrial heat and other advanced nuclear applications.
️ The experimental fuel production line has been established at the JSC NII NPO LUCH site. Other Rosatom organizations, as well as Russian equipment manufacturers and suppliers, are taking part in the project. The line’s stated capacity is 250,000 fuel compacts per year. The next stage is expected to focus on stabilizing the technology, validating production reliability and preparing the basis for future HTGR projects.
Source: kun.uz