MSZ launches new fuel rod production line

Wednesday, 28 January 2009

An improved automated production line for the fabrication of both VVER-440 and VVER-1000 fuel rods has been commissioned by TVEL's Mashinostroitelny Zavod (MSZ) subsidiary in Electrostal, Russia.
 

A VVER-1000 fuel assembly (Image: TVEL)

MSZ said that the main feature of the production line is the use of a pallet-based system for loading low-enriched uranium fuel pellets into the fuel rods. The system enables four fuel rods to be filled with pellets at the same time. The company said that the system can reduce the time taken to load fuel pellets into a VVER-1000 rod by up to 50 seconds.
 
In a statement, MSZ said that the introduction of the new production line - which was developed by its Central Automation and Mechanization Laboratory - has given the company 'the opportunity to make fuel rods for both VVER-440 and VVER-1000, thereby using an automated line with a higher work load.'

 

VVER-440 fuel assembly is composed of 126 fuel rods, while that of a VVER-1000 has 311-312 fuel rods.
 
MSZ produces fuel assemblies for both Russian and Western European reactors using fresh uranium as well as recycled uranium recovered from reprocessing. The plant produces fuel assemblies for VVER-440, VVER-1000, RBMK-1000, BN-600 and reactor units for the Russian navy. MSZ also manufactures components, special containers, as well as a wide spectrum of non-nuclear products, including calcium metal, magnets and thin-walled steel pipes.