New Direction in Experimental Research at the NNC RK

On April 9, the “Institute of Atomic Energy” branch successfully carried out the startup of the IGR reactor with the experimental device “IMPULSE.”

The work was performed as part of a research project aimed at expanding the capabilities of the IGR reactor for conducting irradiation experiments with power reactor fuel under conditions close to limiting ones.

The startup was implemented in a controlled “Impulse” mode, which allows for sustained reactor operation at a low power level. The results obtained confirm the IGR reactor’s ability to achieve the required testing parameters, in which the energy release in the reactor core is comparable to its heat losses. This is a key factor for experiments focused on neutron fluence accumulation.

The conducted research significantly broadens the experimental capabilities of the IGR reactor and opens new prospects for modeling emergency and transient operating conditions of power reactors. The project strengthens the position of the NNC RK as one of the leading scientific centers in the field of reactor research and confirms the high level of expertise of its specialists.