Fuel loaded into the reactor of first unit at Czechia's Temelín nuclear power plant

Staff at the Temelín nuclear power plant loaded 163 fuel assemblies into the reactor of the first unit. Fuel loading took almost four days, according to a plant press release. The first unit was taken offline as scheduled on 7 April for refuelling. During the planned two-month outage, staff will replace a quarter of the fuel. The outage is now in its final third. Staff are preparing to reassemble the reactor.

Fuel loading takes place underwater. A remotely operated machine positioned the fuel assemblies in precisely designated locations. This ensures even heat generation and limits the effect of neutrons on the reactor vessel. Of the 163 fuel assemblies, 42 are new; the oldest will be entering their fourth year in the reactor. „Our specialists move the fuel-handling machine’s mast very carefully, at up to ten centimetres per second. The slowest part is lowering the assembly itself into position, at up to five millimetres per second. A reactor physicist also monitors the whole process,“ said Jan Kruml, director of the Temelín power plant.