FPU Akademik Lomonosov completed trials of nuclear power plant
Comprehensive tests of nuclear power plant have been completed on the Floating Power Unit Akademik Lomonosov, press office of Rosenergoatom Concern (part of the Electric Power Division of the State Corporation Rosatom) reported.
The main task of the tests was to confirm the technological parameters of the vessel’s nuclear power plant, incorporated in the design of the FPU and to make sure that the vessel is fully ready to enter service.
On March 31, 2019, the FPU power plants No. 1 and No. 2 were brought to 100% capacity. The tests carried out confirmed the stable operation of the main and auxiliary equipment of the FPU, as well as the automatic process control systems.
“In recent months, in accordance with the program, all the necessary inspections of the NPP systems and installations have been carried out during the phased increase of its capacity. The test results confirmed the achieved technological parameters incorporated in the FPU technical project,” said Andrey Petrov, General Director of Rosenergoatom Concern.
He also explained that following the test results, the state commission will sign the certificate of acceptance and commissioning into service of the FPU. The certificate will be obtained in July of this year.
By the end of 2019 it is planned to complete the construction of onshore and hydraulic engineering structures in Pevek (Chukotka Autonomous Region) for the Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant, as well as the infrastructure that will ensure the transmission of electricity to the grid of Chukotenergo and heat to the city’s heat network. Overall, the project is being implemented on schedule.
In the 2019 summer navigation, the FPU will be escorted by towboats to the Port of Pevek, where the facility will replace the Bilibino NPP which generates 80% of the electricity produced by the closed-loop Chaun-Bilibino energy system, a pioneer nuclear power plant built in the Arctic region (in Chukotka). Shutdown of the first power plan unit is scheduled for 2019 with the entire Bilibino NPP to stop operation in 2021.
It is expected that the FPU will generate first kilowatts of electricity to the grid in December 2019.
The floating power unit (FPU) of Project 20870 is to operate as a part of floating nuclear power plant. The station is equipped with KLT-40 C reactors generating up to 70 MW of electricity and 50 Gcal / h of heat energy in the nominal operating mode, which is enough to support the city with a population of about 100,000 people. The floating power unit is intended for operation in the Far North and in the Far East regions. The lead FPU, the Akademik Lomonosov FPU, is intended for the floating nuclear power plant in Pevek (the Chukotka Autonomous District). It is a unique project of the world’s first mobile power unit of low capacity. The main purpose of the project is to supply power to large industrial enterprises, port cities as well as offshore gas and oil platforms.
FPU characteristics: LOA: 140 m, beam: 30 m, draft: 5.56 m, displacement – 21,500 tonnes, crew – 69.
The facility can easily be converted into a desalination plant producing up to 240,000 cbm / day of fresh water. The floating plant’s design service life is 35 to 40 years. Reactor refueling is to be performed every 2.5 - 3 years.
The floating nuclear power plant is overdesigned to meet all the possible risks and ensure the reactors’ unvulnerability in case of tsunami and other disasters. Nuclear processes comply with all the requirements of International Atomic Energy Agency and present no risks for the environment.
