Leningrad NPP

History

2021: Start using an unparalleled robot in the world

In May 2021, it became known that the Leningrad NPP began to use a robot that has no analogues in the world. We are talking about a device that allows you to diagnose and repair the lining of walls and the bottom of the fuel pools of power units with VVER-1200 reactors.

The fuel pool is a reinforced concrete structure with metal lining, filled with water with boric acid. The integrity and tightness of the pool is an important component of nuclear and radiation safety of the nuclear power plant.

Leningrad NPP begins to use a robot that has no analogues in the world

The robot is equipped with a high-precision positioning and video surveillance system, which allow it to "navigate" in the pool without removing water and fuel. The robotic system is designed specifically to service a new type of nuclear power plant.

Diagnostics and repair of pools at NPP are performed by personnel. To do this, it is necessary to unload fuel cells and drain boron solution, "says Alexander Belyaev, chief engineer of Leningrad NPP-2, whose words are quoted by the press service of Rosenergoatom (this concern includes Leningrad NPP). "It takes a few days. Our robot copes with such a task in a few hours. At the same time, it is not necessary to get fuel from the pool.

Using ultrasound, the robot detects possible leaks, determines their coordinates, cleans the defective surface and repair the metal lining by welding. The operator monitors and controls the entire process using a special console.

If necessary, the robot will quickly eliminate leaks in the fuel pool and maintain the design water level, preventing bare and subsequent melting of fuel elements with fuel, minimizing manipulations with spent fuel.^[1]

1966-1973

On November 29, 1966, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted Resolution No. 800-252 on the construction of the first stage of SELA, determined the organizational structure and cooperation of enterprises for the development of the project and construction of nuclear power plants:

supervisor - A.P. Alexandrov (IAE named after I.V. Kurchatov); general designer - A. I. Gutov (VNIPIET); the chief designer of the reactor plant is N. A. Dollezhal (NIKIET); the chief designer of the turbine plant is Yu. F. Kosyak (KhTGZ); metal structure developer - N. I. Melnikov (TsNII PSK); head material science organization - G.I. Kopyrin Promete); designer and manufacturer of CPS electromechanical equipment, KTO - Yu. G. Klaas (Design Bureau of the plant (Bolshevik).

On June 29, 1967, the Scientific and Technical Council of the Ministry of Secondary Engineering approved the technical project of the RBMK-1000 reactor presented by NIKIET.

The excavator lifted the first bucket of land from the pit for the foundation of the main building of the future Leningrad NPP on July 6, 1967.

On December 23, 1973, members of the State Receiving Commission took the first power unit into operation. In 1975, the second unit of the Leningrad NPP was launched and the construction of the second stage of the station began.

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