Information about the SM research reactor and its characteristic features and advantages over other research reactors is presented. The reasons for updating the reactor and the optimal method of solving the problem are indicated. The upgrade program preserves the essential structural features of the rector and allows for the insertion of additional irradiation channels in the fuel part of the core by removing some fuel elements. The reactivity loss arising in so doing is compensated by increasing the uranium content in the remaining fuel elements. A new type of fuel element based on materials with reduced harmful absorption of neutrons is being developed to improve further the technical and economic performance of the reactor. The design and the technology of the fuel element have been developed for three implementations, and experimental fuel elements for reactor tests have been fabricated. The fuel elements have been checked for adherence to the requirements. It has been shown that normal operation of the fuel elements is possible with heat flux density at the surface 9–12 MW/m2, which meets the initial requirements.
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Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 106, No. 6, pp. 314–318, June, 2009.
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Volkov, V.S., Morozov, A.V., Kozlov, A.V. et al. Development of a fuel element with low harmful neutron absorption for the SM high-flux research reactor. At Energy 106, 389–394 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-009-9177-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-009-9177-3