The expert spoke about testing "tolerant" fuel for nuclear power plants

After the Chernobyl disaster, special attention is paid to safety in the field of nuclear energy. Among other things, Russia is testing so-called "tolerant" fuel for nuclear reactors, which should improve plant safety in case of accidents. This was announced by Alexander Bystrikov, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Operation Department at Rosenergoatom Concern.

According to him, the key task of the development is to eliminate the formation of explosive hydrogen at extreme temperatures. Nowadays, zirconium shells are used in fuel cells, which react with water when overheated.

"This metal is good at work, but it has a bad "habit" — with out—of—design reaction parameters, if the temperature reaches +1200 degrees, zirconium reacts with water to release hydrogen, an explosive gas," Bystrikov noted.

He added that chrome plating of fuel surfaces is one of the solutions to the problem. "The whole world is looking for ways to prevent this effect. One of the solutions is surface chrome plating. Developments are already being tested in Russia," the expert emphasized.

Read more about the Chernobyl disaster and its consequences for the industry in the Izvestia special project