The fourth and final metal shell of the peripheral cavity for the lead-cooled Brest-OD-300 fast neutron reactor and the internal casing of the core basket have been delivered to the construction site at the Siberian Chemical Combine (SKhK – Sibirskovo Khimicheskovo Kombinata) in Seversk, Tomsk region.
Brest (Bistrii Reaktor Estestvennoi-bezopasnosti co Svinstovim Teplonositelem – Fast Natural-safety Reactor with Lead Coolant) is part of the pilot demonstration power complex (ODEK – Opitno Demonstratsionovo Energo-Kompleksa), being built under the Breakthrough (Proryv) project intended to demonstrate closed fuel cycle technology. As well as Brest, ODEK also includes on-site nuclear fuel cycle facilities including a module for fuel fabrication and refabrication and a module for reprocessing and recycling irradiated fuel.
In August and September, the metal shell of the central cavity of the reactor unit, as well as three metal shells of the peripheral cavity, were delivered to SKhK. The total weight of the products is more than 1,000 tonnes.
The four shells of the peripheral cavity are an integral part of metal structures designed to form a coolant circuit with a central cavity and to accommodate internal devices: steam generators, main circulation pumping units, lead coolant filters, mass transfer devices and cooling heat exchangers. Their installation is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
In the first quarter of 2026, it is planned to carry out assembly and installation of elements of the core basket, including its internal casing. This is one of the most important elements at the heart of the reactor. It is designed to reduce heat exchange between the hot and cold coolant paths and reduce the temperature load on the equipment of the basket, in which fuel assemblies, reflector blocks will be placed, and where used fuel assemblies will be temporarily stored.
“We plan to begin installing the casing after installing additional structural elements on the bottom of the metal structures of the shell of the central cavity mounted in the reactor shaft,” said Ivan Babich, Director of the Brest project at ODEK. [This will take place] after putting together the overall components of the core basket at a temporary assembly site near the reactor building and installing this enlarged unit inside the metal shell of the central cavity of the reactor unit.”
In September, the metal shell of the central cavity was installed in the reactor shaft, designed to accommodate the core basket.
