[en] Investigations in the field of cosmic nuclear power engineering in the USSR were started in sixties, now they are realized through demonstration tests of nuclear power plants at Kosmos satellites. The advantages of thermoelectric space power generators i.e. minimal overall dimensions, possibility of power increase, provide their competibility at power up to hundreds of kW and 2-3 year srvice life with further improvement up to 5 years and more. Nuclear facilities, providing power supply for different cosmic systems - power, propulsion, combined ones - are under current development in the USSR. Further develolment of cosmic nuclear power engineering needs comprehensive researches, most effective in the case of international cooperation

[en] Development of the world power industry in the 21st century is forecasted. It is noted that natural gas will be the dominating power source. Problems of safety of new generation reactors and the effect of nuclear power on the environment are discussed

[en] Consideration is being given to the main factors (safety, sphere of application and fuel supply), dictating competitiveness of nuclear power at the world power market. Requirements of reactor safety are formulated on the basis of risk assessment including analysis of the maximum credible design basis reactor accidents. The social estimation is based on the condition of providing the minimal probability of occurrence of even one accident with dangerous radioactive effluents. The economical estimation derived from the condition that the damage from serious accident doesn't exceed several percent of the reduced power generation cost. It is shown that when determining possible scales of nuclear power development and requirements for reactors of a new generation allowance must be made for the structure of heat production both with respect to the type of energy-transfer medium (steam, hot water, high-temperature coolant) and to its temperature potential, as well as for the factor of registered capacity

No abstract available

[en] Different aspects of nuclear reactor performance improvement due to optimal distribution of heat release, fuel enrichment, fissile material concentration, moderator, absorber, coolant flow rate, fuel element arrangement in a heterogeneous reactor with variable pitch etc., both without burn-up effects and taking account of the fuel-cycle and fueling patterns, are considered. 16 refs.; 82 figs.; 12 tabs

[en] Outlooks on nuclear power development in Russia are analyzed. Specifically, the following problems are considered: NPP safety, specific features of new generation NPP, small power nuclear plants, nuclear power structure, NPP decommissioning and competitiveness

[en] Problems on further development of nuclear power in Russia are considered. Practical safety, economical efficiency and competitiveness with traditional thermal power plants are the determinative factors by choice of reactor types. Necessity for substantiation of perspective nuclear power structure is noted

No abstract available

[en] Methods for calculating the stress-strain state of fuel microparticles of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, realized in the form of the FORTRAN complex program for the BEhSM-6 computer, are considered. Calculation results of the stress-strain states of different layers of fuel microparticle coatings versus the neutron fluence and fuel burnup are presented. The dependence of the maximum stress in a SiC layer on its thickness is obtained. The fuel microparticles investigated consist of a UO₂ core, 500 μm in dia., buffer layer of pyrolytic carbon PyC, 70 μm thick, the first reinforcing layer of dense PyC, 60 μm thick, the second reinforcing layer of SiC, 40 μm thick, and the third one of dense PyC, 50 μm thick. The mathematical calculation model is based on the following assumptions: the core has the shape of a sphere and is surrounded with spherically-symmetric coatings; the internal coating of porous PyC does not bear mechanical loading and transfers all the stresses, directed square to its surface, directly to the force coating of dense PyC; elastic constants of coating materials are isotropic and do not change during irradiation; irradiation with fast neutrons causes anisotropic changes in PyC coating dimensions. To calculate stress-strain states of fuel microparticles the classical methods of elasticity theory are used. On the basis of the analysis of the data obtained a conclusion is made that destruction of PyC layers does not result in destruction of fuel microparticles on the whole. SiC layer is a main reinforcing laye. Reliable operation of fuel microparticles shouled be evaluated taking into account the strsses arising in a SiC layer under irradiation

[en] Results of comparative estimation of energy consumption in steel production with high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and water-cooled and water-moderated power reactor for the electrolysis method of reducing gas (hydrogen) production are given. It is shown that, according to the schemes adopted, the greatest energy consumption go into the hydrogen production (about 70% of energy in both cases). The energy costs in the steel production, the unit energy costs being equal for both installations, differ by 11% in favour of the high-temperature reactor. (author)