Beloyarskaia NPP: BN-800 is ready for commencement of a nuclear reaction

Июня 23, 2014

A critical event has occurred at the power unit 4: the amount of fuel loaded into the reactor BN-800 has reached a critical value required for commencement of a nuclear reaction. As nuclear engineers call it, a “minimum critical mass” was reached.

Currently, the last preparatory procedures are being implemented, and the required permits by Rostechnadzor are being obtained in order to launch the procedure of bringing the reactor BN-800 to the critical state. This event which is very important not only for the Russian but also for the global nuclear power industry will happen in the coming days.

The preparatory stage of the physical launch of the reactor BN-800 was commenced in the end of December 2013. Starting from February 2, 2014, stepwise loading of the reactor with nuclear fuel assemblies has been performed. After the reactor is brought to the critical state, the next stage of its physical launch will come, and afterwards, a power launch of the unit 4 will be performed (i.e., its connection to the power system and generation of the very first kilowatt hours of power). Then, long-term stages of stepwise increase and reaching the projected generating capacity will take place, when the unit will be commissioned for pilot energy generation first, and then for commercial operation. And only after that, the new unit will operate with its rated capacity level in 2015.

Today, pre-commissioning activities are being performed at the unit 4. Installation of the turbine К-800-130 and of the auxiliary equipment in the power house is in progress, different process systems are being tested.