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Conference Article: Creation of nuclear heating plants in Russia: present status and prospects for the future

Abstract

History of heating reactor developments in two sites, Gorky and Voronezh, using AST-500 was reviewed. After interruption of construction for several years, decisions were made to resume the constructions. At Voronezh, based on the environmental assessment and the review of the IAEA OSART mission, the construction was resumed in 1996. In the course of construction resumption, design upgrading has been implemented in the following aspects: reclassification of station-level equipment concerning its importance for safety. Control and instrumentation systems retrofitting with reliance on new generation element bases. Application of self-actuated safety devices. And implementation of additional instrumentation for extended operating conditions. In Tomsk, Siberia, feasibility study is underway, which aims to replace the currently operating reactors with a twin-unit heating stations with AST-500 in order to provide heat to the district heating grids. In the study the NHP design is being assessed by a joint Russian-American Study Team from evaluation criteria such as design applicability and constructability, maturity of the design, safety aspects, technical uncertainty, available infrastructure, engineering and construction capabilities, site suitability, cost and schedule. Positive possibilities are foreseen to reuse the components previously delivered to the Gorky site, according to the assessments of structures and technological tools necessary for the re-erection work were, man-power needed for the equipment dismantling, inspection and re-erection and storage conditions. The construction cost is estimated as US$446 per KW(th).

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Reference:

Advisory group meeting and consultancy on experience with nuclear heat applications: district heating, process heat and desalination, 13-15 December 1995 and 7-9 February 1996.
Advisory group meeting on technology, design and safety aspects of non-electrical application of nuclear energy, 20-24 October 1997.
Advisory group meeting on operational modes of nuclear desalination plants, 3-5 November 1997.
Advisory group meeting on materials and equipment for the coupling interfaces of nuclear reactors with desalination and district heating plants, 21-23 April 1998.

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

IAEA-TECDOC--1056, pp:55-60