Russia Tests Aerial Spent Nuclear Fuel Transport Containers

The Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov has completed successful tests of the world's first aerial transport container for spent nuclear fuel from research reactors.

The Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov in Nizhnii Novgorod oblast undertook the reportedly successful tests, the Press Center of Nuclear Energy and Industry reported.

The tests involved transport packaging containers for transporting spent nuclear fuel from TUK-145/S research reactors by air and were undertaken in order ascertain that the containers met the requirements of Russian and international regulations applied for S-type containers used for transporting research reactors’ spent nuclear fuel by air.

The spent nuclear fuel TUK-145/S research reactor container package tested by the Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov is a SKODA VRVR/M in a protective shock-absorbing cover constructed of titanium spheres that are designed to remain hermetically sealed on collision with a target at the speed of 300 feet per second, the average speed at which the container falls to earth from an altitude of 3,200 feet. The SKODA VRVR/M’s protective shock-absorbing cover was a joint design by the Sosny Science and Production Firm Limited Liability Company and the Russian Federal Nuclear Center All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics Federal State Unitary Enterprise.

By. Charles Kennedy, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com