Russia’s Titan-2 said on 25 May that it is continuing construction of the Proryv (Breakthrough) project pilot demonstration energy complex (ODEK) at the Siberian Chemical Combine site in Seversk. Specialists from the Proryv and Sibir Separate Subdivisions of Titan-2, SosnovoborElektroMontazh, and other contractors are working at the site. In the summer, some 300 volunteers from student construction teams will join the work at the facility.
ODEK is intended to demonstrate a closed nuclear fuel cycle on a single site. When completed, it will comprise a fuel fabrication-refabrication module producing mixed uranium-plutonium nitride (MNUP) fuel, as well as a fuel reprocessing module and the BREST-300 lead-cooled fast neutron reactor. Completion of work under the contract is scheduled for 2024.
Titan-2 said currently work is being completed at the zero level of the reactor building: the walls are being erected and the ceilings are being reinforced and concreted. By the end of the year, it is planned to reach the +12 metre mark on the reactor building. In the turbine building, specialists are concreting floors at zero level. The plan for this year is to reach the +27 metre level.
Work continues in the fuel fabrication-refabrication module. This year it is planned to transfer the main technological systems ready for commissioning. At present, the gas-air supply system is at a high degree of readiness and testing of pipelines is beginning. The adjustment of the power supply system continues. The connection of the main equipment will begin after all engineering systems are put into operation.
In addition, the construction of a lead preparation building and a cooling tower is underway. All the necessary concrete structures of the cooling tower have been completed, and the installation of the support belt of the lower sections has begun. This year it is planned to concrete the body of the cooling tower up to +44 metres - the final height of the structure will be 88 metres.
One of the key tasks for the near future is the installation of a 95-metre-high exhaust pipe next to the main production building. The lower sections of the pipe have already been brought to the site. Its installation is scheduled to be completed in June. It was reported in May that the BREST-OD-300 reactor is to have a digital twin.
When Titan-2 General Director Grigory Naginsky visited ODEK in April, he noted: “The Proryv project can be compared to launching a perpetual motion machine - it is a huge step forward. The emergence of the Proryv project will advance the development of the energy sector as a whole. It can definitely be compared to flying into space or discovering new galaxies.”
Image: Construction of the Proryv project pilot demonstration energy complex (ODEK) continues at the Siberian Chemical Combine site in Seversk (Credit: Olga Isaeva)
