Rosatom Technical Academy with the participation of the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University conducted “Small Modular Reactors: Key Aspects and Life Cycle” training course for lecturers and specialists from the CIS countries.
Participants came from Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
The course participants learned about the configuration of the main equipment of reactor and turbine islands of small nuclear power plants, as well as the advanced Russian-designed nuclear power technology based on the RITM-200N reactor. They also gained knowledge of the key principles of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management at small modular reactors. In addition, the particular attention was paid to ensuring nuclear and radioactive safety at small nuclear power plants.
Experts of the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University presented the methodology for applying level 1 Probabilistic Safety Assessment to determine the systems reliability and assess the core damage frequency, using another Russian-designed small modular reactor, KLT-40S, as an example.
On the final day of the training course, the participants visited the enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division, JSC Machinery Manufacturing Plant in Elektrostal, Russia, where they were shown the process of nuclear fuel fabrication – from the production of nuclear pellets to the finalization of fuel assemblies.
Training courses in the train-the-trainers format are regularly conducted by the Rosatom Technical Academy within the framework of Rosatom’s project “International Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Education.” They cover a wide range of topics, from electricity generation at large and small modular reactors to the irradiation of medical materials and agricultural products, the production of advanced radiopharmaceuticals using research reactors, and the development of modern systems and technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases.
The courses contribute to the transfer of nuclear education expertise by providing partner countries with competencies for training students in nuclear and radiation technologies.
Small modular reactors represent an optimal solution for ensuring stable and environmentally friendly energy supply to consumers in remote areas with limited grid infrastructure. In addition to the traditional advantages of nuclear power generation, small nuclear power plants offer a number of benefits, including compact design, modularity, and shorter construction periods.