Cormit-II Project

In order to implement the three-year International Project “Cormit-II” *, carried out jointly with the Japanese Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation through mediation with Marubeni Utility Services, Ltd., a draft agreement has been developed for the 2020-2021 financial year, within the framework of which two full-scale experiments RT-11 and RT-12 at the Lava-B facility and six small-scale experiments at the VCG-135 facility will be implemented. Preparations for the first experiment have begun, based on which data will be obtained on the interaction between corium and zirconium oxide refractory blocks. The experiment is scheduled for June 2020.

* The Cormit-II Project is aimed at studying the interaction between molten core materials (corium) of a light-water nuclear reactor and refractory materials in event of a severe accident. The joint collaboration of Kazakhstani and Japanese experts is to conduct a series of experimental and material studies of the results of contact between corium and various refractory materials (such as zirconium dioxide and aluminum oxide) under conditions simulating residual energy release in corium. All the case studies are going to be carried out at the experimental base of the Institute of Atomic Energy Branch. Large-scale experiments are carried out at the Lava-B facility of the Angara test-bench, small-scale experiments – at the VCG-135 facility. The facilities are located on the territory of the Complex Research Reactors “Baikal-1”.