Conversion of research reactors to low-enrichment fuel

Abstract

Work on lowering the enrichment of fuel for research reactors recently designed in Russia is reviewed in brief. It is noted that the conversion to low-enriched fuel for research reactors built abroad according to Russian designs is practically complete, except for the MARIA reactor in Poland and VVR-K reactor in Kazakhstan work on which will be completed in the near future based on conventional fuel elements and assemblies. The principal stages of the work are presented, including the development and fabrication of lowenrichment fuel based on uranium dioxide in an aluminum matrix for existing designs of fuel elements and assemblies, development and fabrication of fuel elements and assemblies with low-enrichment high-density fuel, development of new-generation fuel elements and assemblies for the research reactors being designed.