NNC RK Installs L-Positioner for Repackaging IGR Reactor HEU Fuel

One of the stages in the conversion of research reactors at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the reprocessing of highly enriched uranium fuel from the IGR reactor. As part of the repackaging activities to transfer HEU fuel from cylindrical containers, a dedicated facility equipped with a hot cell (radiation-shielded box) is being established.  To ensure the safe extraction of HEU fuel from cylindrical containers, Italian company Sideros Engineering manufactured a 1.25-ton capacity L-positioner designed for installation inside the hot cell.  From September 21 to September 25, specialists from RSE NNC RK, together with representatives of Sideros Engineering and the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, carried out the installation and commissioning of the equipment. The scope of work also included performance testing of the L-positioner and operational personnel training. These activities mark another practical milestone in the safe repackaging and reprocessing of the IGR reactor’s HEU fuel.