The second generation of WWER-440 fuel has been designed in Russia and is manufactured by Mashinostroitelny for all consumers of the WWER-400 fuel (the nuclear power plants of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland (since late 2008)).
Vasily Kolosovsky, deputy head of technical department of Mashinostroitelny, said that the WWER-440 fuel of the second generation will enhance the efficiency and the safety of the consumer plants.
Paks Nuclear has been offered gadolinium fuel assemblies with higher fuel weight and burnup level. Mashinostroitelny has improved the quality of its fuel by introducing new upgraded equipment.
Presently, the company, jointly with several Russian research centers, is developing the WWER-440 fuel of the third generation. The new fuel will have even higher uranium burnup level and will not contain superfluous materials, such as zirconium tube. More uranium, less zirconium, better performance.
“This project requires highly coordinated work of all workshops and departments. Presently, we are drafting the design documentation. In order to effectively implement the project, we have developed special technologies, particularly, a new fuel assembly welding technique,” says Kolosovky.
In 2010 Mashinostroitelny will fabricate 12 RK-3 WWER-440 fuel assemblies for Kola nuclear power plant.
