Online Technical Meeting on SAIGA Program

On 16-18 November 2020, IAE and CEA (Commissariat for nuclear energy and alternative sources) organized videoconference to conduct technical meeting on SAIGA Program. It was a Kick-off meeting initiating performance of optional service of SAIGA program related to the testing of model fuel assembly of the advanced reactor ASTRID in the IGR research reactor with Sodium Loop. In the course of the Meeting CEA and IAE discussed technical issues related to the results achieved in the Feasibility Study, Na Loop designing, thermo-hydraulic calculations of Na Loop as part of Experimental Device, thermo-physics calculations of reaching steady-state and fuel degradation as well as failure of structural elements of the test section as part of the model FA under the testing modes. French specialists presented technical requirements for the Experimental Device, Na Loop and the IGR reactor in the test delivery. Kazakh specialists demonstrated draft list of equipment required for fabrication of Na Loop, ampoule and batch of the fuel pellets, as well as provided detailed plan for implementation of SAIGA optional service in compliance with their contractual terms. According to the results of the Videoconference both sides have reached agreements on required deliverables and stated about the need of additional technical online meetings between the specialists in order to discuss in detail technical problems concerning the design of Na Loop and Experimental device and the way of its equipping  with instrumentations.