Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

The peer-reviewed scientific and technology journal. ISSN: 0204-3327

Chronicle of Science Studies Performed on BR-1 – the First Fast Reactor in the USSR

9/10/2025 2025 - #03 History of science

Gulevich A.V. Troyanov V.M. Frolov Yu.V.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.3.17

UDC: 621.039

This article provides a chronological overview of the scientific research carried out by the IPPE using the BR-1 reactor, which was a unique facility for that time. From 1955 to 1959 (with the exception of a brief period when the BR-2 reactor was operated at the IPPE in 1956–1957), the BR-1 was the only one experimental fast reactor in the USSR. Its plutonium core served as a powerful source of fast neutrons for physical experiments. The purpose of these experiments was to study the neutron propagation in materials of interest for fast reactors, as well as to verify and refine the nuclear-physical constants used in the calculations of fast neutron reactors. The BR-1 reactor was used to measure the plutonium conversion ratio in fast reactors (up to 2.6 maximum). Experiments on BR-1 have also shown that in the case of a concentrated plutonium core and water-uranium reflector the plutonium generation rate can reach an extremely high value – up to 5.5. The role of resonance effects in the field of fast neutrons was revealed for the first time, fast neutron spectra were measured in media with high resolution for the first time, and a specially developed resonant filter method was used for measuring spectra in fast systems.

References

  1. Frolov Y.V., Troyanov V.M. On the Development and Construction of BR-1 – the First Experimental Fast Reactor in the USSR. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025;1:189–202; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.1.14 (in Russian).
  2. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 844, p. 10 (in Russian).
  3. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 742, p. 43–47 (in Russian).
  4. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1161, p. 139–141 (in Russian).
  5. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 962, p. 48, 46 (in Russian).
  6. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s-72, file 33, p. 30, 32 (in Russian).
  7. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1073, p. 15, 21 (in Russian).
  8. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1160, p. 17, 44, 57 (in Russian).
  9. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1161, p. 139–141 (in Russian).
  10. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1275, p. 12 (in Russian).
  11. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1412, p. 92 (in Russian).
  12. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1501, p. 3 (in Russian).
  13. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1577, p. 44–45 (in Russian).
  14. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1654, p. 7 (in Russian).
  15. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1822, p. 18 (in Russian).
  16. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1887, p. 22–23 (in Russian).
  17. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1882, p. 7 (in Russian).
  18. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s, file 1945, p. 10 (in Russian).
  19. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s-72, file 20, p. 128–129 (in Russian).
  20. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s-72, file 535, p. 118 (in Russian).
  21. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s-72, file 767, p. 178 (in Russian).
  22. Archive of the IPPE JSC. F. 1, reg. 1/s-72, file 1017, p. 145–146 (in Russian).
  23. Reports of the units of IPPE JSC on the state of nuclear and radiation safety of research reactors, critical stands and nuclear hazardous sections of the fuel cycle for 1999 year, p. 85–89 (in Russian).
  24. Reports on the current state of nuclear and radiation safety facilities IAU IPPE JSC for 2000 year, p. 69–75 (in Russian).
  25. Leypunsky A.I., Orlov V.V., Troyanov M.F. et al. Overview of the work on physics of fast reactors at BR-1, IB and BFS. Status and prospects for the construction of a fast neutron reactor. Collection of reports Tom II. Obninsk, Publ., 1968, p. 176–190 (in Russian).

Laboratory V IPPE JSC BR-1 reactor fast neutron reactor plutonium conversion ratio nuclear physics constants

Link for citing the article: Gulevich A.V., Troyanov V.M., Frolov Yu.V. Chronicle of Science Studies Performed on BR-1 – the First Fast Reactor in the USSR. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 3, pp. 252-265; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.3.17 (in Russian).

Open PDF file