THE STORY OF BREST | FAST REACTORS fast reactor The Brest
Despite many challenges the Brest-OD-300 lead-cooled fast reactor is now being constructed in Seversk with start-up anticipated in 2028 or 2029. The goal is a closed nuclear fuel cycle
By Judith Perera
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, progress at the construction site of Russia’s Brest-OD-300 reactor has been rapid after decades of development delays and challenges. The metal shell of the central cavity, which will hold the core basket, load fuel assemblies and equip the reactor control and protection system, was installed in late September. This came shortly after the delivery to Seversk during the summer of key reactor components. The Brest-OD-300 lead-cooled fast reactor is being built at the Siberian Chemical Combine (SKhK – Sibirskovo Khimicheskovo Kombinata) in Seversk, Tomsk region. Brest (Bistrii Reaktor Estestvennoi-bezopasnosti co Svinstovim Teplonositelem – Fast Natural-safety Reactor with Lead Coolant) has had a difficult birth but is now nearing completion. Rosatom originally planned to launch the reactor in 2026. However, additional research and development work was required and the launch has now been postponed to 2029. Alexey Ferapontov, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Federal, Environmental, Industrial & Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) confirmed to NEI that start-up is now scheduled for 2029 “or maybe 2028”. The abbreviation OD in Brest-OD-300 stands for
experimental and demonstration. “This is an important clarification. The reactor must demonstrate its functionality. If the planned characteristics can be achieved, it will be a step towards the energy of the future,” explained Professor Georgy Tikhomirov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Technology at National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. Brest is part of the pilot demonstration power
complex (ODEK – Opitno Demonstratsionovo Energo- Kompleksa), being built under the Breakthrough (Proryv) project intended to demonstrate closed fuel cycle technology. ODEK also includes on-site nuclear fuel cycle facilities: a module for fabrication and refabrication (MFR) and a module for reprocessing and recycling irradiated fuel. Unlike traditional VVER reactors, the Brest-OD-300
reactor has an integrated layout. Its body is not an all- metal structure, but a metal-concrete structure, which has metal cavities for placing primary circuit equipment. During construction, the space between the cavities is gradually filled with concrete filler. In addition, the Brest body is larger. It can only be delivered in parts, and final assembly is only possible on the construction site. Because the dimensions and shapes of the elements of the Brest reactor plant differ significantly from other reactor plants in serial production, this required
the adaptation of production facilities to work with products as tall as five-storey buildings and the development of unique packaging with a total weight of 700 tonnes for transportation and tilting of equipment during installation. As the components will have to withstand higher
temperatures special steels had to be developed that can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius. The main threat to the performance and safety of a lead-cooled reactor is liquid metal corrosion – the dissolution of steel components in the lead coolant. During August and September, large cargos were
transported to the site over two months along rivers and the northern sea route. This included the turbogenerator and the stator of the generator set as well as a metal shell for the central cavity of the reactor installation; an internal casing for the core basket; and the first shell of the peripheral cavity (there are four such shells in total). The central cavity shell is designed to accommodate the core basket and install fuel assemblies. The peripheral shell will house the main circulation pump, two steam generators and a heat exchanger for the reactor’s emergency cooling system. From the river port it was delivered to SkhK along a
highway on a multi-axle platform using tractors. This made it possible to evenly distribute the load and minimise pressure on the road surface. To ensure safety and unhindered passage of special vehicles, power wires were temporarily lifted, and road signs were dismantled during the passage of the convoy.
www.neimagazine.com | WNE Special Edition | 43
Above: The steam turbine and the stator of the generator set during delivery in August 2025.
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