On January 18, 2023, the vessel of the world's largest multipurpose fast neutron research reactor (MBIR) was installed in its designed position at the construction site of RIAR in Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Region (a company of the Rosatom's scientific division – Science and Innovation, JSC).
This is one of the key events in assembling the reactor plant, which allows to complete installing the reactor block dome.
According to Yuri Olenin, the Deputy Director General for Science and Strategy of the State Corporation Rosatom, "Installation of the reactor vessel in its design position is a great result of the work done by a large team of like-minded persons – researchers, engineers, designers, and builders. It's an important milestone of the entire MBIR reactor construction project. It opens up the further front of work on installing the reactor equipment and allows to significantly approach the completion of construction which is already progressing ahead of schedule. This means that not only our country, but the global nuclear industry will soon receive a state-of-the-art and technologically advanced research infrastructure, which will expand the study of technology for two-component nuclear power engineering and closing the fuel cycle, accelerate and justify creating safe fourth-generation nuclear power plants, while making it possible to perform undeniably breakthrough fundamental and applied research in the next 50 years. The Rosatom's MBIR research rector and the Russian "megascience" project – the PIK reactor of the Kurchatov Institute – complement each other and ensure the entire possible range of neutron research, both in terms of neutron energy and possible research objects."
The MBIR reactor vessel is a unique product with a length of 12 meters, a diameter of 4 meters, and a weight of more than 83 tons. It was delivered to the site 16 months ahead of schedule – in April 2022. The equipment was manufactured at the Rosatom's Atommash plant in Volgodonsk, Rostov Region.
The MBIR reactor construction at the site of RIAR is the most important project that provides both expanding the scientific and production capabilities of the Company and the nuclear industry for the next half century and carrying out socially significant events in the City and the region, including the construction of a new low-rise building block for highly qualified specialists and researchers.
In parallel with the MBIR construction, an international research centre (IRC MBIR) is being created in Dimitrovgrad, a world competence centre for fast reactors, which will bring together representatives of leading international and Russian scientific institutions.
Currently, about 1,400 builders, including engineering and technical personnel, as well as more than 80 units of construction machinery, are engaged in working at the construction site.
Construction work is expected to be completed in 2026, one year ahead of schedule. The MBIR launch is scheduled for 2027.
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The Government and major domestic companies allocate resources for accelerated development of the domestic research, infrastructure, scientific, and technological facilities. Introducing innovations and new high-tech equipment allows Rosatom and its companies to increase the competitiveness of the nuclear industry and the entire Russian industrial sector in general. The Rosatom's innovative technologies are based on the latest achievements of Russian nuclear science and fully meet the current ESG agenda.
MBIR is a multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor of the fourth generation. It is being built as part of the federal project of a comprehensive programme for the development of nuclear science and technology (RTTN). After its commissioning, the plant will be the most powerful (150 MW) operating research reactor in the world. It will replace the BOR-60 reactor, which is in great demand today and has been operating at the RIAR's site for more than half a century. In addition, it will allow to conduct reactor and post-reactor experiments, to hone the technology for the production of isotopes and modified materials.
The chief project designer is Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering, JSC; the scientific supervisor is IPPE JSC (a company of the Rosatom's scientific division); the general designer is the State Specialized Design Institute. The general construction contractor is Institute Orgenergostroy, JSC (Moscow). Consortium Leader of MBIR Reactor International Research Centre, LLC manages the participation of foreign and Russian specialists in the project of the MBIR International Research Centre (IRC).
The unique parameters of the MBIR reactor are best suited for conducting materials science experiments, testing fuels and new coolants; it will provide the nuclear industry with a state-of-the-art infrastructure for the long term.
