Out-of-pile experimental base to justify fast reactors and prospects of its further development

The paper makes an overview of the current status of the experimental and test base that is used to justify fast reactors (FR) being in operation and under development in Russia. The paper gives the description of the largest test facilities and out-of-pile experimental rigs that are in operation at the leading research institutes and enterprises (SSC RF-IPPE, OKBM, SSC RIAR, RDIPE, OKB 'GIDROPRESS', etc.). Consideration is also given to the prospects of further development of the out-of-pile experimental and test base aimed at justification of advanced FR designs of the fourth generation that are under development at the Russian institutes and enterprises. The task to develop the out-of-pile experimental base is one of the key trends in implementation of the Federal Target Program (FTP) 'Nuclear power technologies of a new generation' for 2010-2020, that is under approval in the Government of the Russian Federation. The FTP envisages development of three innovative FR technologies, i.e. a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), a lead-cooled fast reactor (BREST) and a lead-bismuth fast reactor (SVBR), and the respective fuel cycles. In compliance with these goals the FTP presupposes development, upgrading and reconstruction of the required experimental base of Rosatom in terms of the following aspects: core physics; reactor system technology; materials. In the field of core physics studies it is envisaged to technically reequip the complex of big test facilities (BFS) at the SSC RF-IPPE. In the area of reactor system technology it is planned to concentrate the research work in the following areas: hydraulics and heat exchange in the flow-through part of the equipment; coolant technologies (control and purification systems); operability of mechanisms and systems; technological safety of equipment and systems; endurance testing. In the field of material science the research work is envisaged in the following aspects: justification of material efficiency in the core and circulating loops in contact with the coolant; material radiation resistance studies