The 6th power block of the Novovoronezh NPP featuring a VVER-1200 reactor is to switch to a different mode with the extended fuel cycle duration. Following its operational launch in 2016, the Novovoronezh NPP’s 6th power unit  has been running a 12-months fuel cycle: nuclear refueling would take place once a year. The plant is going to switch to an 18-months fuel cycle.

The Novovoronezh NPP-2 (6th and 7th power units of the Novovoronezh NPP) design team has already prepared a justification of why it would be safe to switch to a different fuel cycle, and they are finalizing the process of making changes to the operational documents. The justification papers will then be submitted for review to Rostekhnadzor. The license to switch the Novovoronezh NPP’s 6th power unit to an 18-months fuel cucle will be obtained following a thorough investigation of the prepared documents.

The operation of the extended fuel cycle mode will start with the pilot production at the Novovoronezh NPP 6th power unit. The pilot scope will run for around thee years. Following the outcomes of that phase, a decision will be made on whether to fully switch to an 18-months fuel cycle.

‘We will be able to conduct nuclear refueling once every year and a half, not every year, which would considerably reduce the total duration of the power unit’s maintenance. As a result, we will increase the power unit’s installed capacity utilization factor and, hence the electric power output. Based on our experience with VVER-1000 power unit, the total output in the new mode may go up by over 11%. The introduction of the 18-months fuel cycle will facilitate more stable and effective operation of the innovative power unit’s equipment and will improve its safety’, Evgeniy Golubev, the head of the nuclear safety and reliability department at the Novovoronezh NPP, noted.

Applicable transition fuel loads have been developed for the Novovoronezh NPP 6th power block taking into considerations all its operational aspects. Fresh nuclear fuel to be uploaded during the upcoming routine maintenance is manufactured by the TVEL Fuel Company. Improved mechanical parameters, enhanced nuclear fuel enrichment process and usage of gadolinium-containing fuel elements cater for safe operation of the VVER-1200 reactor facility in long fuel cycles.

Following the transition to the 18-months fuel cycle at the the Novovoronezh NPP 6th power block, a similar exercise will be undertaken at the 7th one.