Russian Fast Reactor Hits Full Power

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--A new fast reactor unit at the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in Russia has begun operating at full power for the first time, almost two years after it was due to be fully operational.

Unit 4 at the plant will run for more than two weeks at full power before owner Rosenergoatom (Moscow) applies to the state for permission to run the plant commercially. Rosenergoatom oversees Russia's nuclear fleet, which comprises 35 reactors spread across 10 plants with a total generating capacity of 26.2 gigawatts (GW). Nuclear power supplies just over 18% of Russia's total power needs.

The reactor in use is a BN-800 fast neutron reactor with a generating capacity of 789 megawatts (MW), which has taken the spot of second largest from Unit 3 at the same plant, the BN-600, which has been operating for 35 years.

"Thus begins the procedure of comprehensive testing of the unit at its rated power," stated Rosenergoatom. "This procedure is a major and final condition in preparation for the delivery of power in commercial operation. During the 15-day comprehensive test the unit will have to confirm that it is able to consistently run at the rated power load in accordance with the design parameters, without deviation."

Unit 4 was first brought to minimum controlled power in mid-2014 and was expected to go live at the end of the year before running into fuel issues. At the time Rosenergoatom said there needed be more work carried out on the fuel. BN-800, like other fast neutron reactors, requires a special fuel mix. Today it uses uranium and plutonium oxides, which are mixed for combustion.

Fast neutron reactors, although rare, are efficient at utilising mixed oxide (MOX)-fuel, something Russia has large stockpiles of following the decommissioning of Cold War nuclear weapons.

Rosenergoatom is also behind the development of the world's first floating nuclear power plant, which is due to set sail later this year. The project saw the installation of two small reactors aboard the Akademik Lomonosov, a 144-metre long ship, weighing in at 21,500 tons. It will be capable of generating 70 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat, enough to power about 200,000 homes in the remotest parts of northern Russia. For additional information, see November 4, 2014, article--First Floating Nuclear Power Plant in 2016.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.