Six fuel assemblies with uranium-plutonium REMIX fuel rods have been loaded into the VVER-1000 core during the scheduled outage at unit 1 of the Balakovo NPP. Each REMIX fuel assembly of the standard TVS-2M model contains only fuel rods with a mixture of uranium and plutonium recovered from spent nuclear fuel (312 fuel rods in each bundle).Earlier in 2021, the trial operation of three experimental fuel assemblies, which included six REMIX fuel rods each, was successfully completed at unit 3 of the Balakovo NPP (in total - three 18 months irradiation cycles).Such approach fully complies with the global common practice of development and introduction of innovative nuclear fuel. The initial stage usually implies loading of several pilot assemblies with new-type fuel rods (the so-called LTR, or lead test rods programme), then followed by operation of several assemblies consisting of new-type fuel rods only (LTA, or lead test assemblies programme).
Six fuel assemblies with uranium-plutonium REMIX fuel rods have been loaded into the VVER-1000 core during the scheduled outage at unit 1 of the Balakovo NPP. Each REMIX fuel assembly of the standard TVS-2M model contains only fuel rods with a mixture of uranium and plutonium recovered from spent nuclear fuel (312 fuel rods in each bundle).Earlier in 2021, the trial operation of three experimental fuel assemblies, which included six REMIX fuel rods each, was successfully completed at unit 3 of the Balakovo NPP (in total - three 18 months irradiation cycles).Such approach fully complies with the global common practice of development and introduction of innovative nuclear fuel. The initial stage usually implies loading of several pilot assemblies with new-type fuel rods (the so-called LTR, or lead test rods programme), then followed by operation of several assemblies consisting of new-type fuel rods only (LTA, or lead test assemblies programme).
