17 Nov (NucNet): An agreement has been signed for the construction and installation of the MBIR multipurpose fast neutron research reactor, which will be built at Russia’s Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR) near Dimitrovgrad in western Russaia, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said.
The agreement, signed between NIIAR and construction company Ural Energostroy, will see the construction of the main reactor building, including the installation of the reactor pressure vessel, the steam generators and the turbine units, as well as the ventilation systems, emergency heat removal systems and supporting and infrastructure facilities. The total value of the contract is 5.2 billion roubles (about €90 million).
NIIAR said the completion of construction works and commissioning are scheduled for December 2019, and the reactor will have an operational lifetime of 50 years, until 2069.
The 150-megawatt reactor will primarily use sodium as a coolant and vibropacked mixed-oxide (VMOX) fuel. VMOX is a Russian variant of MOX fuel in which the blended uranium-plutonium oxide powders and fresh uranium-oxide powder are loaded directly into the cladding tube of the fuel assembly instead of first being manufactured into pellets.
The MBIR will be used for the development of materials for Generation IV fast neutron reactors. Scientists will use it to carry out experiments into the operating parameters of core components under normal and emergency conditions when using sodium, lead, lead-bismuth, gaseous and molten salt coolants.
The reactor will also be used for experiments on future fuel designs containing uranium, plutonium and thorium, as well as research into closed fuel cycles and burn-up of long-lived fission products. The use of carbide and nitride mixed uranium-plutonium fuel, as well as the fuel for a mixed uranium-thorium fuel cycle will be investigated.
The MBIR will replace the BOR-60 experimental fast reactor, one of the few operational fast neutron research and test reactors in the world. BOR-60 has been operational since 1969 and is due to be shut down and decommissioned in December 2020.
In October 2014, NIIAR submitted an application for a construction licence for the MBIR to Russia’s nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor. The licensing process is expected to be completed by spring 2015.
In April 2014, NIIAR awarded AtomEnergoMash, a Rosatom subsidiary, a 1.8 billion rouble (€31 million) contract for the supply of the reactor pressure vessel and reactor internals.
