First batch of nuclear fuel pellets from Russia to arrive in India in July-end

[Kraitcorp]

New Delhi: The first batch of nuclear fuel pellets — over 60 tonnes — to be supplied to India by Russia is expected to be delivered by the end of July, the Russian suppliers have said.

The pellets are expected to be delivered 26-29 July, said officials from TVEL, the fuel company of Russian atomic power corporation Rosatom. The fuel is meant for the pressurized heavy-water reactors already functioning in India. "Technical acceptance of the first batch of pellets to be supplied in 2016 to the Indian Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has been successfully completed at the Machine Engineering Plant of TVEL," Andrew Pyrinov, head of the department of technical control of the Machine Engineering Plant, told IANS.

Technical Acceptance is the procedure to check if there are any defects in products. The extensive programme involves checking of all technical documentation by the buyer, which in this case is India. The programme included the presence of NFC representatives during the production of fuel pellets and storage of finished products. Pyrinov said the acceptance was completed without any inquiries from the Indian side.

A long-term contract for the supply of fuel pellets for the Indian nuclear power plants was concluded on February 11, 2009 in Mumbai between JSC TVEL and the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

The Russian company was the first to sign a long term contract to supply nuclear fuel to India's PHWR reactors after the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) had removed the restrictions on the supply of uranium, reactors and technology to the India on 6 September, 2008. The first delivery of nuclear fuel to the Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad (India) took place in spring 2009. The fuel pellets made in Elektrostal, Russia are used in Indian nuclear reactors. The Nuclear Fuel Complex was established 1971 as a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy, for supplying nuclear fuel to the plants.


http://www.firstpost.com/world/firs...a-to-arrive-in-india-in-july-end-2869082.html



What are we going to do with over 60 tonnes ?

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

We are intelligent enough not to use these for N weapons but for civilian purposes

 

[kaykay]

Good. We need more for civilian purposes.....

 

[Nilgiri]

New Delhi: The first batch of nuclear fuel pellets — over 60 tonnes — to be supplied to India by Russia is expected to be delivered by the end of July, the Russian suppliers have said.

The pellets are expected to be delivered 26-29 July, said officials from TVEL, the fuel company of Russian atomic power corporation Rosatom. The fuel is meant for the pressurized heavy-water reactors already functioning in India. "Technical acceptance of the first batch of pellets to be supplied in 2016 to the Indian Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has been successfully completed at the Machine Engineering Plant of TVEL," Andrew Pyrinov, head of the department of technical control of the Machine Engineering Plant, told IANS.

Technical Acceptance is the procedure to check if there are any defects in products. The extensive programme involves checking of all technical documentation by the buyer, which in this case is India. The programme included the presence of NFC representatives during the production of fuel pellets and storage of finished products. Pyrinov said the acceptance was completed without any inquiries from the Indian side.

A long-term contract for the supply of fuel pellets for the Indian nuclear power plants was concluded on February 11, 2009 in Mumbai between JSC TVEL and the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

The Russian company was the first to sign a long term contract to supply nuclear fuel to India's PHWR reactors after the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) had removed the restrictions on the supply of uranium, reactors and technology to the India on 6 September, 2008. The first delivery of nuclear fuel to the Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad (India) took place in spring 2009. The fuel pellets made in Elektrostal, Russia are used in Indian nuclear reactors. The Nuclear Fuel Complex was established 1971 as a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy, for supplying nuclear fuel to the plants.


http://www.firstpost.com/world/firs...a-to-arrive-in-india-in-july-end-2869082.html



What are we going to do with over 60 tonnes ?

Well 60 tonnes is about 5 cubic metres of uranium dioxide pellets (given its very high density). It is definitely just a first batch for a nuclear power complex. It will need a lot more over time.

 

[OrionHunter]

What are nuclear fuel pellets?

Uranium dioxide (UO2) powder is compacted to cylindrical pellets and sintered at high temperatures to produce ceramic nuclear fuel pellets with a high density and well defined physical properties and chemical composition.

Such fuel pellets are then stacked and filled into the metallic tubes. Stainless steel was used in the past, but most reactors now use Zirconium alloy which, in addition to being highly corrosion-resistant, has low neutron absorption.

The tubes containing the fuel pellets are sealed: these tubes are called fuel rods which most of you have heard of. The finished fuel rods are grouped into fuel assemblies that are used to build up the core of a power reactor.

Fresh fuel pellet....

Just 5 of those enriched pellets will supply the complete electrical power needs for a single average Indian household residence. Yep! Just 5 pellets.

A typical large Westinghouse PWR power plant reactor which we are importing from the US of A will contain around 193 fuel assemblies in all, holding 51,000 fuel rods, and almost 18 million fuel pellets.