On approaches to regulation of accident tolerant fuel application

Authors:   Kuryndin A. V., Kirkin A. M., Karimov A. Z., Makovskiy S. V. Issue:   4 (102) – 2021.

Currently, active development and introduction of new types of accident tolerant fuel is ongoing in the Russian Federation and worldwide. This type of fuel is potentially more resistant to accident conditions, that are typical for thermal reactors and to the steam-zirconium reaction in particular. The increased stability of accident tolerant fuel is achieved by changing the fuel rods cladding or the fuel matrix. In a number of countries, including the Russian Federation, experimental studies of the accident tolerant fuel properties are already carried out at research facilities. Also pilot operation of individual fuel rods of a tolerant type is carried out at power units of nuclear power plants. At the same time the introduction of accident tolerant fuel is associated with a change in existing technologies of fuel rods and fuel assemblies production, as well as with a change in their design. This requires the implementation of an appropriate safety justification and a safety assessment, which is organized by the regulatory body. However the Russian Federation as well as other countries has only limited and insufficient experience in the field of licensing of accident tolerant fuel application. This article contains a brief review of accident tolerant fuel introduction process and presents some possible approaches to safety regulation of such fuel introduction.

Keywords: accident tolerant fuel, licensing, safety regulation.

Article language: Russian. Pp. 13–23. DOI: 10.26277/SECNRS.2021.102.4.002.


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