Oddly enough, but today one of the cleanest forms of energy is considered ... atomic! And, in general, quite justified. Yes, NPPs produce hazardous types of waste, but their amount is relatively small, and mankind has long learned how to smel it into a glass-like substance that is not subject to corrosion and can be stored in underground bunkers for thousands of years.
If we compare their danger with the volumes of soot and carbon monoxide that are emitted by CHP, the atom is clearly safer.
New projects
In addition, power engineers around the world are constantly working, creating new generation nuclear power plants. For example, in our not so distant past, the NPP-2006 was announced. This is a project of a completely new nuclear power plant. If the development and implementation is successful, then we will have the opportunity to build much more powerful, but safe nuclear power plants. The nuclear energy institute was responsible for the development , whose specialists coped with their task perfectly.
To date, it is known for certain that the new power plants aroused the keen interest of potential customers in Iran, as well as the UAE. In general, this is not surprising, since these states have long-standing experience with our country.
Key design features
It should be noted that the key components of any nuclear power plant such as NPP-2006 are two “islands”: the traditional and the nuclear. The latter refers to all structures and systems providing the conversion of atomic energy into thermal energy, as well as electronics and other equipment that is responsible for the safety of this process. Accordingly, the traditional "island" is a generalized name for mechanisms and systems that allow heat to be converted into electricity. It is divided into three sections:
- Turbogenerator.
- Electrotechnical.
- Cogeneration.
The most important turbine-generating compartment of NPP-2006, since it is there that the conversion of thermal energy to the electricity necessary for a person takes place. In the electrical department, step-up and step-down transformers are located, on which it is "converted" to the values necessary for transportation.
The heating circuit is not developed at all nuclear power plants, but where it is, it is responsible for the transfer of thermal energy to consumers (supply of hot water to the city heating network, for example). Currently, all processes taking place in the traditional and nuclear "islands" are under constant control of modern electronic systems, which can automatically shut off the reactor in the event of the slightest malfunction.
Information about the device "islands"
As you might guess, the central place of the nuclear "island" is always occupied by the reactor. It is entangled in heat sink, cooling, electronic control and protection systems. The state of the reactor is monitored every second, the readings are compared with the standards in an automatic manner. If at least some indications change dramatically, the electronics immediately gives an alarm to the desk of the personnel on duty.
In the case of the traditional “island”, the engine room is central. Its main installations: a turbogenerator, a condensation path, heating installations and other auxiliary units. They are very important, since NPP-2006, judging by the information of the contractor, will be able to provide nearby settlements not only with electricity, but also with heat.
Cooling system
Actually, it consists of a reactor and a coolant that directly communicates with the blocks of nuclear fuel. It consists of four circulation loops, as well as one condensation unit. There are also several steam generators, refrigerators, and other auxiliary elements. As you might guess, the first circuit is radioactive, since its coolant is in direct contact with the radiating components of the fuel.
Accordingly, the second circuit is non-radioactive. These are again steam generators, steam pipelines, turbine units and condensing units with pumps, other elements. The work products of this circuit do not constitute a danger to plant personnel and the environment, since they are not in direct contact with radioactive fuel or primary coolant.
How does it all work?
So, when the coolant in the first circuit passes through the reactor core, it heats up, and then passes through four additional heat transfer loops. At this time, heat is transferred to the second circuit. After passing through the heat exchangers, the primary coolant again goes to the reactor core for heating. Water circulation - forced, through pumps.
The main differences of the new type of power plants
What is the difference between new type of NPP projects and traditional varieties of such kind of stations? The most important difference is complete versatility. Power plants are fully unified for all types of terrain and climatic conditions. It is supposed to be built both on rocky foundations and on soft soils, including in those regions where seismic activity is regularly recorded.
If it is necessary to build a new generation of nuclear power plants where aggressive external influences are recorded (sea water, seismic instability), then the project simply makes changes in advance. The design itself does not change at all.
Environmental measures
New NPP projects provide for a considerable number of measures aimed at minimizing the risk of radiation contamination of the environment. This is achieved through the use of a large number of protective systems. During construction, the main attention is paid to such objects as:
- Reactor compartment.
- Auxiliary building for backup reactor compartments.
- Emergency substation for power supply of station systems .
- The main turbogenerator.
The reactor building is the main one, the entire infrastructure of the nuclear "island" is being built around it. This is where the steam generator is located, as well as refrigeration units and other equipment. In addition, the project involves the installation of standby liquid fuel generators, which are responsible for powering the circulation pumps in those cases when the station itself does not generate electricity due to some kind of accident, but it is still necessary to cool the reactor core. So the safety of a new generation of nuclear power plants is on top.
Other precautions
The reactor and all nodes adjacent to it are protected by a massive double shell, which prevents the exit of decay products and nuclear fuel components from the reactor in cases of accidents and other unforeseen situations.
In addition, in special utility rooms are systems of deep purification of water, steam, waste. All ventilation and steam generating units are duplicated many times to minimize the likelihood of accidents and other unpleasant incidents. In general, a nuclear power plant (the photo is in this material) is an object whose security even army units and bases can envy.
Reserves - first of all!
All active safety elements are connected to backup energy sources, so that even in emergency situations their stability is not violated. Buildings in new projects of domestic nuclear power plants are located at the maximum possible distance from each other, so that even in the event of an airplane crash, nothing irreversible will happen. This is the difference between NPP-2006, the project of which we have just reviewed in general terms.
Distinctive features of the reactor compartment
In the case of the latest domestic nuclear power plants, a V-392M brand reactor is used. Of course, this includes not only the installation itself, but also condensers, steam generators, pumping stations and other important technological components. If you compare all this with previous models of stations, as well as with the development of foreign engineers, then the domestic solution has several important advantages at once:
- The efficiency was significantly increased due to the use of a new type of fuel, but at the same time, new reactors may well work with the old one.
- The latest interactive diagnostic systems are used, which allow to obtain information about the status of each node.
- The reactor core control systems have also been significantly improved.
- The life of the main equipment has been increased to at least 60 years.
- The maximum value of the burnup of nuclear fuel was immediately increased to 70 MW.
- Downtime is minimized.
Thus, the nuclear power industry in Russia has at its disposal a new powerful tool that will further strengthen the energy independence of our country.