How to do in Novosibirsk nuclear fuel

• How to make nuclear fuel in Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant in 2011, produced and sold 70% of the world consumption of lithium-7 isotope (1300 kg), a new record in the history of the plant. However, the major product is the production NCCP nuclear fuel.

This phrase works on the consciousness of Novosibirsk impressive and intimidating, causing the company to imagine anything: from the three-legged individual workers and the underground city and ending with radioactive wind.

So what is actually hidden behind the fences of the most mysterious of Novosibirsk plant producing nuclear fuel in the city?

JSC "Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant" - one of the world's leading manufacturers of nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants and research reactors in Russia and foreign countries. The only Russian manufacturer of lithium metal and its salts. It is part of the Fuel Company "TVEL" State Corporation "Rosatom".

We came to the shop, where the manufactured fuel assemblies - fuel assemblies are loaded in nuclear power reactors. This is the fuel for nuclear power plants. To log on to the production need to wear gowns, caps, shoe covers made of cloth, on the face - "petal".

In the workshop focused all work related to uranium-bearing materials. This complex process is one of the major to NCCP (FA NPP occupy approximately 50% of sales in the structure of "NCCP").

Operator, control goes from the production of uranium dioxide powder process, which is then fuel pellets are produced.

The workers carried out maintenance work: at regular intervals, even the new equipment was stopped and checked. In the shop is always a lot of air - constantly running exhaust ventilation.

In such bicones stored uranium dioxide powder. In them, the mixing of the powder and a plasticizer, which allows the tablet to better compacted.

The plant, which produces the compression of the fuel pellets. As sand children make mud pies, pushing the mold, and here: uranium pellets compacted under pressure.

Molybdenum boat with tablets that are waiting for departure in an oven for annealing. Before annealing tablets have a greenish hue and a different resolution.

Contact powder, tablets, and the environment is minimized: all works are carried out in the pits. In order for something to correct inside the boxes are built special gloves.

Torches top - is the dying hydrogen. Tablets are annealed in furnaces at temperatures of at least 1750 degrees in a hydrogen reducing atmosphere for more than 20 hours.

Ferrous cabinets - a high-temperature hydrogen furnace, in which a molybdenum boat passes various temperature zones. Opens the shutter, and into the furnace where the flames break out, comes a molybdenum boat.

Prepared tablets are polished as they should be strictly specified size. And the output inspectors check every tablet that had no chips, no cracks, no defects.

A tablet of 4 grams of 5 is equivalent to an energy of 640 kg of wood, 400 kg coal and 360 cc. of gas, 350 kg of oil.

uranium dioxide tablets after annealing in a hydrogen furnace.

There zirconium tubes filled with pellets of uranium dioxide. At the output of the fuel elements have finished (about 4 m in length) - fuel elements. Of the fuel rods have already collected FA, in other words, nuclear fuel.

Such machines with soda on the streets do not meet, perhaps, only to NPCC. Although they were very common during the Soviet era.

In this machine the glass can be washed and then filled with carbonated or non-carbonated chilled water.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, expressed in 2010, the NCCP has no significant effect on the environment pollution.

A pair of thoroughbred chickens constantly lives and lays its eggs in a good wooden cage, which is located in the shop.

The workers are welded to the frame of the fuel assembly. Frameworks are different, depending on the version of TVS.

As of January 1, 2012, the factory in 2277 people are employed, the average age of the personnel - 44, 3 years, 58% - men. The average salary of more than 38 000 rubles.

Large tubes - are channels for the reactor protection control system. In this framework then establish 312 fuel rods.

Next to NCCP located CHP-4. With reference to the representatives of the plant ecologists reported: in year one CHP emits radioactive substances in 7, 5 times more than the NCCP.

Fitter Victor Pustozerov, a veteran of the plant and the nuclear power industry, has 2 of the Order of Labor Glory.

The head and tail for TVS. They are placed at the very end, when the frame are already all 312 fuel rods.

Final inspection: check the finished fuel assemblies with special probes, the distance between the fuel rods have been the same. Supervisors often women, it is very hard work.

In such containers of fuel assemblies are sent to the consumer - 2 cassettes each. Inside they have their own cozy Felt bed.

The fuel for nuclear power stations produced by JSC "NCCP", used in Russian nuclear power plants and supplied to Ukraine, Bulgaria, China, India and Iran. The cost of fuel assemblies is a commercial secret.

Work on the NCCP in no way dangerous work in any industrial undertaking. Of workers' health is being monitored constantly. In recent years, did not reveal a single case of occupational diseases among workers.