Floating nuclear power plant can become a new profitable solution
One of the main successes of Russia in recent years is floating nuclear power plant. This is an innovative solution in the field of electricity generation, for which domestic developments in the nuclear shipbuilding industry were used. It can be modesty said that it is the only FNPP in the world, and only Russia has the possibility for building of such stations. So, this can become the basis for the creation of a powerful power fleet of the Russian Federation in the future, which will not be affected by any sanctions.
Is floating nuclear power plant our future?
The power unit “AkademikLomonosov” is the flagship project of a whole series of floating transportable low-power power units. It can be used in conjunction with nuclear power plants and has been designed since 2008. There are 2 reactors on board, with a total capacity of 70 MW. The first was launched in 2018, and this year it is planned to launch the second installation. In summer, the floating nuclear plant will be transferred to the buyer, after which it will deliver energy to any region of the world, moving by sea.
FNPP can be placed in absolutely any corner of our planet, even near the Equator Islands or neutral waters on the Northern Sea Route. Of course, the station is able to function not only in the sea. It can be used on deep rivers.
This is a very important development, the queue for which is already being formed up. On the other hand, Europe is already dissatisfied with the novelty, as in the international law of the sea there is no such concept as a “non-self-propelled nuclear facility”, so there are long negotiations on what consider the new development, and what rights it will be granted.
The 70 MW produced by the reactors will be enough to provide electricity to the city for 80,000 people. It is noteworthy that the installations in diameter are only 2 m, and require only a few hundred gr. of nuclear fuel for their work. Other components include 5 levels of protection. The ship itself has a double hull and can withstand collisions with large objects such as other ships and icebergs. Moreover, it can even withstand the tsunami.
The ship will change its location only once every 12 years. It will be done for preventive purposes. In other respects, the floating station can serve itself. It has research facilities, all kinds of premises for technical needs and inspections, the most unique premises is for storage of elements that have exhausted their resource. All systems were planned to survive any emergency situations.
At the moment “AcademikLomonosov” is in the state of the latest preparations. Scientists will create even more modern and powerful reactors on the basis of the ship. They plan to create more compact marine stations, but with improved parameters. RITM-200 reactors will be installed on them, last year such installation has already been put on the Russian icebreaker Ural. This reactor has a dual circuit type and has a capacity of 55 MW. Fuel must be added every 7 years, and the total life is 40 years.
It should be noted that the successful Russian projects in this industry are due to the extensive experience of our country in the operation of the nuclear icebreaker fleet.
