On prospects of development and fabrication of absorber elements in Ukraine

The paper presents analysis results for developments of prospective absorber rod designs, processes of clad filling with boron carbide, absorber rod clad sealing, fabrication of and research into absorber materials in the form of dysprosium hafnate pellets and metallic hafnium rods. The paper also includes results of investigations into performance of absorber rod compounds and models in conditions similar to accidents, and provides results of technological and engineering developments used to manufacture absorber rods for absorber inserts of ventilated storage containers of spent fuel dry storage facilities. The analysis performed covers accomplishments and possibilities of establishing commercial production of GFE-1 hafnium alloy rods for absorber elements of VVER-1000 control rods.