The PIK research reactor is under construction at Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P.Konstantinov of NRC «Kurchatov Institute» (NRC «Kurchatov Institute» - PNPI), Gatchina, Leningrad region. It is one of six projects included in the federal targeted program for creation of world-class nuclear facilities in Russia.
In 2017–2018, the Sosny R&D Company developed, fabricated and delivered non-standard equipment to NRC «Kurchatov Institute» - PNPI designed for the following operations:
- deliver fuel assemblies to the PIK reactor at NRC «Kurchatov Institute» - PNPI for temporary storage in the fresh fuel storage facility,
- store and transport (in the TUK-19 casks) irradiated fuel assemblies with damaged fuel rod claddings, or the ones damaged so that their handling at the PIK reactor and Mayak PA in a standard way is problematic,
- load and transport solid high-level radioactive waste resulting from replacement of the reactor vessel and internals to a storage location, as per NP-053-16 regulatory requirements,
- reload cans of solid HLRW and ILSW,
- install and fasten the PIK SNF casks on vehicles for shipping.
The equipment includes a TK-S-PIK packaging for fresh fuel assemblies; air-tight and ventilated canisters for irradiated fuel assemblies, a shipping cask for solid HLRW; transfer casks for solid HLRW and ILRW, a set of equipment for road shipment of SNF packages, a seat for on-site transfer of the TUK-19 cask; a baskets for canisters containing defective SFAs, a container for solid LLRW; cans for solid ILRW; irretrievable cans for HLSW, etc.
The TK-S-PIK packaging is designed for transportation of the PIK reactor fuel assemblies by land from the manufacturer's facility and their temporary storage in the fresh fuel storage facility.
The TK-S-PIK packaging incorporates a shielded cask, a square or hexagonal cross-section inner shell for the PIK FAs, sets of tools, spares and accessories.
For NRC «Kurchatov Institute» - PNPI, 180 TK-S-PIK packagings were fabricated.
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 1245×260×286 mm |
| Gross weight | maximum 85 kg |
| Capacity | 1 FA |
| FA length | 1085 mm |
| Safety class | 2 to NP-033-11 |
| Type of packaging | А to NP-053-16 |
The ventilated canister is designed for storage and transportation of a spent fuel assembly damaged so that their handling at the PIK reactor or Mayak PA in a standard way is problematic.
The air-tight canister is designed for storage and transportation of a spent fuel assembly with fuel rods damaged as a result of the fuel contact with the pool water.
Canister leakage rate – IV to PNAE-G-&-019–89.
The equipment includes canister handling devices, i.e. a grapple rod for handling an SFA with a damaged pintle, a rod for water discharge from the air-tight canister, a cover closing rod, and a cover crimper rod.
The canisters of both types ensure safe positioning of one square or hexagonal SFA and its storage in the PIK reactor cooling pool and at Mayak PA. The canisters are subject to reprocessing together with the SFA. Special baskets were designed and fabricated to arrange the canisters of both types in the TUK-19 cask.
Container for solid LLRW is deigned for on-site transportation of solid radioactive waste with a specific activity of less than 103 kBq/kg. It can be handled either manually, or with a fuel handling machine.
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 998×870×888 mm |
| Design mass | 230 kg |
| Design volume | 0.42 m3 |
| Safety class | 3 to NP-033-11 |
The can for solid HLRW is intended for solid radioactive waste with a specific activity of no more than 108 kBq/kg generated after the replacement of the PIK reactor vessel and internals to be transported in the TK-VAO-PIK shielded cask. The can is irretrievable.
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 295×600 mm |
| Weight of solid waste | up to 130 kg |
| Safety class | 3 to NP-016-05 |
The transfer cask is designed to transfer the can for solid high-level radioactive waste and its loading into the TK-VAO-PIK shielded cask.
The transfer cask ensures personnel protection against ionizing radiation.
The capacity is one irretrievable can for solid HLRW.
Specifications:
| Height | 2410 mm |
| Lifting capacity | 350 kg |
| Inner diameter | 310 mm |
| Wall thickness | minimum 245 mm |
| Safety class | 2 to NP-033-11 |
The TK-VAO-PIK shielded shipping cask is intended for storage and transportation of the can containing solid high specific activity radioactive waste by land.
Specifications:
| Type of packaging | B(U) to NP-053-16 |
| Dimensions | 1720х1510 mm |
| Gross weight | up to 6440 kg |
| Capacity | one can for solid HLRW |
| Safety class | 2 to NP-033-11 |
The ILRW can is designed to accommodate solid intermediate-level radioactive waste (from 103 to 107 kBq/kg) resulted from replacement of the PIK reactor vessel and internals. The can is irretrievable. Internal volume of ILRW can 0.15 m3.
The grapple is used for the transfer and installation of an empty ILRW can on the working table in the PIK reactor hot cell. Grapple capacity maximum 400 kg.
The ILRW can and grapple are Safety Class 3 to NP-016-05.
The transfer cask is intended for the transfer of the ILRW can. It ensures personnel protection against ionizing radiation. The capacity is one irretrievable can for solid ILRW.
Specifications:
| Height | 2650 mm |
| Lifting capacity | 350 kg |
| Isolation valve opening time | maximum 15 s |
| Wall thickness | minimum 195 mm |
| Safety class | 3 to NP-033-11 |
Equipment for transportation of the TUK-19 casks is designed to install and fasten the TUK-19 cask containing the PIK SFAs on a truck and to ensure additional shielding. The equipment includes three TUK-19 shielded casks installed in special-purpose large-capacity freight container.
The equipment is assigned safety class 4 to NP-033-11. The total weight of the equipment is 4300 kg.
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