The first light water reactor of the VVER type has achieved full power at Russia's Kursk II nuclear facility being developed near Ukraine.
The first light-water reactor at the new Russia n nuclear facility, Kursk II, has now reached full power as part of its commissioning. The 1,250 MWe unit was connected to the grid in December and was allowed to achieve full power after a series of checks and tests at each capacity level.
Kursk II is a new nuclear power plant under construction in western Russia, a mere 37.5 miles from the Ukrainian border. It derives its name from the previous nuclear facility at the site, which housed four RBMK-1000 reactors. The facility was designed for an initial lifespan of 30 years, which was subsequently extended by another 15 years through life-extension programs. The first unit of the Kursk nuclear plant was shut down in December 2021, and the second unit in January 2024. The power plant is being replaced by Kursk II, which consists of four VVER-TOI light-water reactors with a capacity of 1,250 MWe each. Russian light water reactorsLight water reactors are a type of thermal neutron reactor that uses ordinary water rather than heavy water as both coolant and neutron moderator. These are the most common types of nuclear reactors, usually deployed as pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors . The water-water energetic reactor is a type of pressurized water reactor design originally developed in the Soviet Union and sold by Russia. VVER nuclear reactors have since been developed and installed in countries such as China, India, Finland, the Czech Republic, Jordan, Turkey, and many more. With water serving as both coolant and moderator, the VVER design is inherently safer. Power outputs for these reactors range from 70 to 1,300 MWe, with 1,700 MWe under development. First unit at Kursk IIThe four units scheduled for Kursk II are VVER-TOI reactors, a third-generation design. Amongst its improvements are upgraded pressure vessels, low-speed turbines, up to 100 years of service life, when compared to its predecessor, the VVER-1200. Construction of the first unit began in 2018, and the reactor vessel was installed in 2022. The outer dome was completed in August 2023, while the unit was connected to the grid in December. “At each stage, our specialists conducted a series of tests to verify the parameters and performance characteristics of the systems and equipment met their design values and ensure their reliable and safe operation,” said Alexander Uvakin, Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Director, in a press release. “At 100 percent power, we will once again examine the neutronic characteristics of the core, study the reactor’s performance under various scenarios, test the in-core monitoring systems, conduct a complete power-down of the unit, and check the effectiveness of the biological shielding and radiation situation at the NPP.” “We can now confidently say that the unit has confirmed the validity of the design and engineering solutions adopted in the VVER-TOI design, the high quality of the manufactured equipment, and the construction and installation work performed,” added Oleg Shperle, Vice President and Director of the Kursk NPP Construction Project at JSC ASE. The second unit of the light water reactor is also under construction at Kursk II, and all four units are expected to be completed by 2034.
Environment Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fission RMBK Reactors Russia VVER
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