Unit 3 at Russia’s Beloyarsk NPP with a BN-600 sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor, has been connected to the network following a maintenance and refuelling outage, which also saw significant upgrading of equipment.
One of the main tasks was modernisation of the gas cooling system of the generators including first ever replacement of gas cooling pumps at all three turbogenerators. Beloyarsk 3 began operation in 1980 and this work will contribute to extending the operating life of the unit. The replacement makes it possible to continue stable heat removal with hydrogen, which is essential for the reliable operation of generators.
“Current scheduled maintenance has brought us closer to extending the service life of unit 3 until 2040,” noted Beloyarsk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov. “To continue stable and safe operation of the unit, the thermocouple covers and the removable part of one of the main circulation pumps of the primary circuit, which circulates liquid sodium inside the BN-600 reactor, were replaced. In addition to repair work, 121 fuel assemblies were reloaded into the reactor core.”
The specialists also carried out routine repairs of pumps, valves, turbines and generators, cleaned heat exchange equipment and filters, and carried out operational inspection of metal and welded joints of equipment and pipelines.
The Beloyarsk NPP at Zarechny, in the Sverdlovsk region, comprises four units. Units 1&2, both light water graphite reactors, are permanently shut down. Units 3&4 are fast neutron reactors with gross electrical capacity of 600 MWe and 885 MWe, respectively.
