The only floating nuclear power plant in the world

Akademik Lomonosov, a floating nuclear power plant operating from May 2020 in the Chukotka region of Russia in the Arctic, first produced more than one billion kilowatts, according to Rosatom Nuclear Energy Group, Interesting Engineering January 17 reported. Going into operation for more than 5 years, the nuclear power plant has recently completed the first fuel cycle.

Nuclear energy has some limitations. Many people are concerned about the risk of radioactive waste produced by fertilizer reactions, others are interested in time and large amounts to build large -scale power plants. Despite being controversial about the ability to help people achieve the goal of producing energy without emissions, technical achievements in the field of nuclear power are still noticeable that Akademik is one of them. The only floating nuclear power plant in the world is the furthest thermal and electric manufacturing facility to the North.

Placing a floating nuclear reactor is no longer a breakthrough technology. It was used on naval ships since the 1950s and played a key role in maintaining submarine stealth capabilities. But Akademik Lomonosov is different. With a length of 144 m and a width of 30 m, the ship serves civil application and owns two KLT-40S nuclear reactors on the deck to produce electricity. Using technology equivalent to the Russian ice ship, these furnaces have a total heat capacity of 300 MW, which can produce about 70 MW of electricity.

Initially scheduled to deploy at the Sevmash shipyard in northwestern Russia, the ship then moved to Pevek in the Far East to replace the Bilibino nuclear power plant that was about to run out of operation time. Using low-rich uranium fuel (Leu), the power plant meets 20% of the demand in the region by 2020. Currently, the contribution rate of the factory in the CHAUN-BILIBINO Electrical Center and separate grids are more than 60%. In addition to producing one billion kilowatts, the factory also acts as the co -generation facility and takes advantage of the amount of waste from 60 MW of thermal power collected and used for heating.

Currently, the Akademik Lomonosov factory serves the population of 5,000 people, provides energy for mining activities in the Baomskaya ore area and contributes to the daily water removal of 240,000 m3 of water. Last year, the Leu fuel of the first reactor at the factory was replaced and the same activity took place with the other furnace. According to Rosatom, the new fuel is transported to the ship through the North Sea route.

Used fuel is brought back to Murmansk, then transported to Mayak in the Chelyabinsk area for re -processing. Rosatom is also considering building 4 more floating nuclear power plants with a capacity of 100 MW and over 60 years for the export market.