Research Institute of Atomic Reactors
The Research Institute of Atomic Reactors ( short Riar / Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, Russian Научно - исследовательский институт атомных реакторов ) is an institute for the research reactor in Dimitrovgrad (formerly Melekess ) in the Ulyanovsk Oblast. The Institute has eight nuclear reactors: SM, ARBUS (ACT -1), MIR.M1, RBT -6, RBT -10/ 1, RBT -10/ 2, BOR -60 and VK- 50th All reactors are experimental research reactors. The institute mainly deals since the 1950s, with the problem of nuclear energy.
History
The Institute was founded in 1954 shortly after the commissioning of the first nuclear power plant in Obninsk to the study of problems of nuclear energy. Several plants have been built, including special buildings for recycling of nuclear fuel to reduce the amount of nuclear waste.
In October 1961, the first research reactor, called SM was put into operation. 1992, this reactor was upgraded to a modern level of security. It is designed for the irradiation of materials with neutrons to test the effects on it. In addition, you can explore using the reactor the neutron flux by fuel.
In 1963 the nuclear reactor ARBUS (ACT -1) was put into operation. This is an organic cooled reactor.
In January 1964, the first phase of the material science complex was put into operation. The second phase of the complex was built for the non- destructive testing of full-scale fuel assemblies. The complex allows the implementation of the full cycle of a reactor to simulate and test various materials for heat resistance, flux density and neutron spectrum. Also fuel from VVER reactors, RBMK reactors and BN reactors can be tested in this complex. The equipment is also sufficient in order to examine the behavior of the reactor core as well as the functions of fuel in an emergency, and the disposal of fused fuel from a reactor core.
Shortly thereafter, the radiochemical complex was put into operation. In this complex, the reprocessed fuel will be studied and examined the behavior of radionuclides and its benefits for nuclear medicine.
On May 18, 1965, the VK -50 reactor went into operation. This is an experimental, but commercial and thus reported in IAEA reactor. The thermal power of the reactor was 270 MW. It was decommissioned in 1989. Finally, the result was what VK -300 reactor with a capacity of 300 megawatts. This is the first time are used commercially in the nuclear power plant northwest, to be taken in 2011 as part of the project from 2007 to 2015 in operation. Today, the VK -50 is back in operation and provides district heating for the city of Dimitrovgrad and electricity for the environment. This reactor is currently all over the world the only Heizkernkraftwerk.
In December 1966, the reactor MIR.M1 went into operation. In 1979 the construction of the system has been redesigned. This reactor is one of the largest in the world. It is used to develop new fuel pellets for future nuclear power plants.
In December 1969, the reactor was BOR -60 ( Bystrij Opytnyj reactor, test reactor freely translated faster) put into operation. The reactor is a breeder reactor. This should serve for the better understanding of the neutron breeder reactors and technology. The reactor is cooled with sodium. The reactor is used to test new fuel for breeder reactors. Among other things, the fuel was developed in this reactor for the not yet commercially used BREST - breeder reactor. When the reactor is in normal operation, it uses a specially developed for this reactor fuel, which is simply called the BOR -60 fuel.
In 1975 then took the RBT -6 on its operation. This reactor is one of the pool -type reactors ( reactor pool ). He is said to irradiate samples of structural materials and notice changes. In the years 1983 and 1984, then took the reactors RBT -10/ 1 and RBT- 10/2 on the operation. These are further developments of the RBT sixth
1977, the chemical-technical complex was put into operation. This is the largest and only in the world. There is explored as one might prepare by molten salt nuclear fuel again.
Today, all the plants are still or again. The KNK II in Germany was created on the basic model of the BOR -60. The BOR -60 is considered to be a revolution in breeder reactor technology. Worldwide, over almost all breeder reactors on its principle.
Incidents
The worst incident occurred so far in the UK 50th Here, on May 7, 1966 power excursion occurred by fast neutrons. The shift supervisor got it from a high dose of radioactivity. The incident was rated INES 3-4.