With the BN-800 reactor inside, Unit 4 will be a prototype for more powerful commercial fast breeder reactors. “This autumn we will start generating electric power,” Lokshin said and reminded that the primary task of the new unit was to refine construction, startup and operation technologies of commercial fast breeders. Running on a different fuel, fast breeder reactors open up new prospects for the nuclear industry as they minimize waste by introducing a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Only a few countries possess fast breeder technologies, and Russia is a global leader in this field. The BN-800 reactor was started up in the summer of 2014. After a short test run, engineers improved the design of fuel assemblies and the reactor was re-started on 30 June. Soon it reached a power level sufficient to sustain and control the chain reaction. This step ended the BN-800 startup phase.
News from other sites
The work is humming on other NPP construction sites across Russia. Auxiliary structures are being installed around the reactor building of Leningrad NPP-2 Unit 1. “Quality of structural materials is a key for the construction process. We use A500C steel reinforcement with increased plasticity, strength and good weldability. This high-quality steel improves overall properties of the cast-in-situ structure,” explains Yuri Averin, Acting Head of Technical Audit Team with the Capital Construction Department of Leningrad NPP-2. Auxiliary structures will be completed in Q4 2015. Later they will house components of passive systems removing heat from the reactor containment and steam generators.
Reactor Unit 3 began its commercial operations at the Rostov NPP. “Unit 3 began generating electricity two months ahead of the schedule and has already produced 293 million kWh of energy. And today, by commissioning the unit, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry,” stressed Rostov NPP Director Andrei Salnikov. Reactor units at the Rostov NPP are commissioned one by one, with Unit 2 put in operation not long ago and Unit 4 being the next in turn.
Novovoronezh NPP Unit 6 has acquired a new status. “Until now, the unit was under construction. From now on, it is in the maintenance and testing phase. This is the time when we check quality of the construction works. Our task is to confirm that all the equipment is ready for the reactor startup,” explains Andrei Petrov, a newly appointed CEO of Rosenergoatom. Unit 6 is about to enter the cold run testing phase. The work is ongoing to prepare the primary and secondary loops for hydraulic pressure tests. All drawbacks have been remedied, and the primary loop pressure will be raised in the next few hours.
