Representatives of ROSATOM spoke about advanced projects and solutions in the field of nuclear technologies at the European Conference on Research Reactors (RRFM), which was held from September 24 to 30, 2021 in a hybrid format. The event, organized by the European Nuclear Society, brought together more than 170 experts from 18 countries representing government departments, international organizations, leading industry companies, as well as major research centers and laboratories in Europe, the United States, Latin America and Asia.
As part of the session "New Projects in the field of Research Reactors", Dmitry Vysotsky, Vice President of Rusatom Overseas JSC for research reactor projects and Nuclear Science and Technology Centers (CNST), and Artem Goncharuk, Head of the International Activities Department of ICI MBIR Consortium Leader LLC, presented innovative projects and solutions of Rosatom in the field of nuclear technology application: the updated product line of CNST under the single brand RIVER - Research Innovative VErsatile Education Reactor and the Russian project of the International Research Center based on the MBIR reactor. "Our RIVER product line includes a variety of typical flexible solutions in the field of nuclear technology applications for scientific and commercial tasks, and the name itself symbolizes flow and continuous development. It presents three basic gradations: RIVER I - INTRO for a subcritical stand, RIVER A - ADVANCED – for a more advanced complete set of CST and, finally, RIVER PRO - for a complex CST. At the same time, there are also special product solutions for agriculture and healthcare in the line – RIVER AGRO and RIVER MED, which can be selected by the partner country either separately or as part of a comprehensive offer. And, of course, we traditionally offer services in the field of modernization and retrofitting of existing research reactors - RIVER PLUS. Thus, all RIVER solutions are adapted to the needs of the customer country, taking into account its experience in the application of nuclear technologies, economic, social and commercial aspects," Dmitry Vysotsky said. As the Vice President of Rusatom Overseas JSC noted, nuclear science and technology centers today play an important role in achieving sustainable development goals and allow countries to successfully develop and implement innovations in such sectors as science, ecology, healthcare, education and industry.
Artyom Goncharuk, Head of the International Activities Department of the MCI MBIR Consortium Leader LLC, spoke about the implementation of the project of the International Research Center based on the MBIR reactor, which will become a global platform for conducting experimental nuclear physics research and for substantiating the development of two-component nuclear energy. MBIR is a multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor, which, upon commissioning, will receive the status of a world leader among high-current research facilities. The unique physical characteristics of the reactor will allow not only to carry out a full cycle of research of promising materials and equipment for Generation 4 reactor technologies, but also to simultaneously carry out a wide range of work in the field of non-energy applications. In particular, to produce radioisotopes and modified materials, to conduct medical and basic research.
The access of Russian and foreign partners to the MBIR reactor is realized through a legal platform unique for the Russian market and scientific projects – the ICI MBIR Consortium. The implementation of research programs based on the reactor will represent the coordinated work of hundreds of scientists and experts from different countries and will set a global trend and accelerate the development of fast nuclear energy.
Background:
ROSATOM has many years of experience in implementing projects in the field of research reactors both in Russia and in other countries of the world. In total, more than 120 nuclear research reactors were built with the support of Rosatom, 22 of them were implemented abroad, including in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other countries. At the moment, Rosatom is the operator of about 20% of all research reactors in the world.