Russia delivers more efficient nuclear fuel for Kudankulam

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Nuclear energy

Context:

Rosatom State Corporation of Russia has supplied the first batches of more reliable and cost-efficient nuclear fuel over the existing one, the TVS-2M nuclear fuel, for VVER-1000 reactors in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).
After the next refueling, the reactor will start operations in an 18-month fuel cycle, which was 12 month earlier.
Compared to the current fuel model, the TVS-2M fuel assemblies have a number of advantages making them more reliable and cost-efficient.
- Firstly, it is the rigidity of a bundle, as it has a welded frame and the additional spacer grid makes the fuel assemblies more vibration-resistant.
- Secondly, the new fuel has increased uranium capacity — one TVS-2M assembly contains 7.6% more fuel material as compared to the earlier fuel bundles.
- Also, Kudankulam fuel in particular is the new generation anti-debris filter protecting bundles from debris damage.
Russia is building the KNPP under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) of 1988 and follow-on agreements in 1998 and 2008.