Leningrad NPP has tested the lead sample of the new transport and packaging container, TUK-137T.R, intended for the transport of VVER-1200 used fuel. The tests were carried during the scheduled outage of Leningrad unit 6 (also known as Leningrad-II unit which is currently underway. During the cold tests a fuel assembly simulator was installed in each of the 18 cells of the container. The team of specialists also worked out the full transport and technological cycle of the new container. The successful operations confirmed the compatibility of TUK-137T.R with the equipment of unit 6.
The new TUK-137T.R, unlike previous versions used at the power units with VVER-1000 reactors, does use imported components and allows the transportation of fuel assemblies with higher radiation and heat loads. Also, while maintaining the dimensions of the previous series, it accommodates more cassettes – 18 instead of 12.
“The new generation container is not only a unified solution for all NPPs with VVER -1200 reactors ensuring safe transportation of used fuel, but also an important step to the transition of the domestic nuclear industry to a balanced nuclear fuel cycle, which is based on the concept of multiple re-use of nuclear fuel in order to reduce the need for natural uranium, reduce waste volume, and waste sent to final disposal,” said Alexander Belyaev, chief engineer of the Leningrad-II NPP. “Thanks to the advanced construction of TUK-137T.r, all work to remove used fuel from power units will be safer, and the enlarged container capacity will optimise the time needed for repair campaigns,” said Pavel Ivanov, deputy chief engineer for safety and reliability at Leningrad-II.
The next step after cold tests at Leningrad-II will be tests at the Belarusian NPP. Their results will be taken into account in the design of serial TUK-137T.R containers intended use Russian nuclear power NPPs with VVER-1200 reactors and from the Belarusian NPP starting in 2027. Preparation for their production has already begun.
The first batches of used fuel from Leningrad units 5&6, which began operation in 2018 and 2021 will be transferred from the reactor buildings in a few years by which time four transport and packaging sets will have been delivered.
Transport and packaging sets of the 137T series is an innovative industry development aimed at creating a whole container fleet for VVER-1200 reactors built by Rosatom both in Russia and abroad – in Belarus, Turkey, Hungary and Bangladesh. The new container will be used at nuclear fuel cycle enterprises that centrally handle nuclear power plants, as well as at NPPs with VVER-1200 units. It is planned that subsequently the containers of the TUK-137T family will also be used to store used fuel.
