In Murmansk, the power unit of Akademik Lomonosov was taken to the dock. It's the world's first floating nuclear power station. It's almost finished. The construction is almost over. The power unit will undergo the final inspection and get painted.
Igor Ageenko will tell us why Akademik is so special.
Slowly, following the highest safety security procedures, the world's only floating nuclear power plant is towed into the dock. Soon, it's appearance will change dramatically. It'll get a new blue-white shirt instead of the current burgundy-yellow. The construction of Akademik Lomonosov is almost finished. Engineers have been working on that for the last 25 years.
Dmitry Alekseyenko, Deputy Chief Technology Officer: "We had the blueprint in 1993. In 1998, we began working on the engineering design and then, began the construction. The construction at the Baltiysky factory began in 2009. The Baltiysky factory was assembling the ship since 2009. It's 2019 and the construction is finished".
World's first floating power unit will be the basis of the FNPP, the floating nuclear power station. It'll be capable of producing up to 70 MW of energy in autonomous mode meaning it can provide electricity for a city with a population of about 100,000 people. It'll promote the development of the so-called small-scale power generation. Similar low-power stations will be a true salvation for remote communities, primarily in the Russian North whose remote location makes it impossible to build a thermal or nuclear power plant.
One of the most restricted areas of FNPP Akademik Lomonosov is a fuel rod overload center servicing the nuclear reactors located 10 m deep under these lids. That's where the peaceful atom will be producing nuclear energy.
World's first floating power unit is based on icebreaker reactors. They even look similar, even though they're very different inside. New unique equipment and special software were developed specifically for the station. Engineers claim that this project will remain relevant for decades.
Andrey Talus, Chief Construction Officer: "It's special, different from icebreakers, ships, or NPPs. It's more advanced; most facilities are automatic. We have A2 automation class, which means some facilities like the engine room are fully automatic. It's been tested and it operates perfectly".
Viktor Yelagin, Lead Engineer: "We've combined the designs of the transport power units used in icebreakers and the designs of stationary nuclear power plants. In particular, I'm talking about the passive security system that only exists in our floating power unit and new NPPs that are currently being built".
Some parts of Lomonosov look neither like a CHP nor like an NPP. What other facility has a gym and rest areas not far from its reactor? Akademik Lomonosov isn't just the world's first and only FNPP. Despite producing electricity, it has a pool, saunas, and showers on board. That makes it similar to nuclear icebreakers and military ships.
We know that two next-generation projects are being developed based on Akademik Lomonosov: optimized floating power units. This technical novelty is already in high demand in the world mostly in Southeast Asia and Africa. Clients will soon be able to buy fully equipped Russian FNPPs.
Vitaly Trutnev, Chief Technology Officer: "Those are the countries have a high population, a poorly developed energy network on their territory, and a high level of energy consumption per capita. They're interested in getting the finished product that Russia will take to their desired location. It will connect to the local energy network and hire maintenance personnel with relevant skills and education".
In the next few months, the nuclear Akademik Lomonosov will face another series of tests. World's first FNPP will depart from Murmansk in late summer. The floating station is expected to begin producing electricity in December 2019.
Igor Ageenko, Dmitry Ivannikov, and Pavel Kovliga Vesti, Murmansk Oblast.
