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What is nuclear energy? Interesting material from Rosatom
15 Jan 2021
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Nuclear energy has recently become an integral part of modern civilization. But its benefits are undeniable. We have light and heat in residential buildings and offices, as well as the energy needed by industrial enterprises, thanks to nuclear power plants.

The use of nuclear technologies has opened up new opportunities for mankind to create advanced energy systems and unique materials, explore hard-to-reach territories on Earth, explore the planets of the Solar system and uncover the mysteries of the origin and development of the universe itself.

It is impossible to imagine a future in which a person does not benefit from the beneficial qualities of nuclear energy and radiation technologies. On Earth and in space, we cannot do without using various properties of radiation that preserve and heal humans and nature, opening up new horizons in space exploration and allowing us to learn the basics of the biological world of our planet.

"We want people to know about natural radioactivity, to understand that radiation exists around us and that in small doses, natural radioactive radiation is not dangerous. Everything that surrounds us is radioactive: the floors and walls of our houses, the food we eat, the air we breathe, even our own body." 

Louis Ferrier, 

Curator of the mineral collection
Museum of Natural History (Vienna, Austria)

In 1896, French physicist Antoine Becquerel discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity – the spontaneous transformation of atoms of one element into atoms of another, accompanied by the emission of elementary particles and electromagnetic radiation. Over the following decades, scientists all over the world comprehended the essence of this phenomenon in all its subtleties and learned how to use it for practical purposes.

Radiation is a common phenomenon in the universe

Radioactive elements are also part of the Earth. The person himself is also a little radioactive, because in any living tissue there are radioactive substances in the smallest quantities and radioactive decay occurs.

Virtually all living organisms on Earth are constantly exposed to natural radioactive (ionizing) radiation. There is even a scientific theory according to which the emergence of life on our planet is associated with the effects of powerful radiation fields.

Scientists are aware of the existence of a real natural nuclear reactor, which is already two billion years old. In the early 1970s, French specialists accidentally discovered uranium ore in Oklo (Gabon) with a reduced concentration of the isotope uranium-235, which usually occurs as a result of a nuclear reaction. After a detailed study of the material extracted from the mine, experts came to the surprising conclusion that a nuclear fission reaction occurred in the uranium ore, which occurred naturally.

Two factors have coincided to launch it in nature. First, the uranium ore deposits in western Equatorial Africa contained a critical mass of uranium-235. Secondly, there was also a retarder of the nuclear reaction, water. If water had not slowed down the neutrons, a controlled fission reaction would not have been possible and the splitting of atoms would not have occurred.

Today, the existence of mankind seems inconceivable without the use of knowledge about the energy of the atom. Advanced countries are intensively developing various radiation technologies and nuclear energy, which grew out of the fundamental discovery of radioactivity.

 

 


From X-rays to the first nuclear power plant


Modern high–tech devices, unique scientific and industrial instruments and systems, new materials and qualities already known - today all this is created using the properties of radiation. People study and save ancient artifacts, protect nature, and discover the secrets of the Earth and the universe thanks to the boundless power of atomic energy. Of course, we are only at the very beginning of making full use of all the properties of the energy of the atomic nucleus, but even what has already been discovered and applied is admirable for its capabilities.

On November 8, 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen discovered X-rays, which were later named after him. With the help of X-rays, that is, ionizing radiation, humanity has learned not only to treat the most serious diseases, but also to penetrate the mysteries of matter.

 

Humanity uses the energy of the natural decay of radioactive isotopes in various terrestrial and space devices – radioisotope energy sources (RTGS). With their help, the electricity and heat necessary for the functioning of the systems are generated. For example, in the Soviet lunar rovers that explored the Moon, RTGS heated the devices inside the machine.

The world's first artificial nuclear reactor

It was built in 1942 at the University of Chicago under the supervision of the famous physicist Enrico Fermi. In our country, the first F-1 nuclear reactor was built in 1946 by academician Igor Kurchatov at Laboratory No. 2 of the USSR Academy of Sciences (today it is the Kurchatov Institute Research Center).

With the help of radioisotope dating technology, based on the method of determining the age of various objects containing some kind of radioactive isotope, archaeologists, paleontologists and even art historians find out the age of ancient artifacts.

The Obninsk nuclear power plant in our country became the first nuclear power plant in the world to be put into commercial operation. It was connected to the power grid on June 26, 1954.

A nuclear power plant is a reliable and safe source of energy

Our country is the ancestor of the industrial use of nuclear power plants. Today, Russian nuclear scientists are designing and building the most modern generation 3+ nuclear power plants, which have high economic efficiency, reliability and are equipped with advanced active and passive safety systems.

There are currently four VVER-1200 reactor units operating in Russia.

The "3+" generation NPP projects were developed by specialists from the Engineering Division of the State Corporation Rosatom. 

The first plant built was Novovoronezh NPP-2. Power unit No. 1 was put into commercial operation on February 27, 2017, and the second unit began operating on October 31, 2019. Then, in March 2018, the first "3+" generation unit was launched at the Leningrad NPP. At the end of October 2020, the second unit of this project was commissioned at the station.

Rosatom's engineering division is currently the only company in the global nuclear energy industry that has built reference nuclear power plants of the third generation.:

• Power units No. 1-4 of the Tianwan NPP in China

• Power units No. 1-2 of Kudankulam NPP in India and generation "3+":

• Power units No. 1-2 of Novovoronezh NPP-2

• Power units No. 1-2 of Leningrad NPP-2

Rosatom's flagship project is a nuclear power plant with a VVER–1200 reactor. 

It has incorporated all the domestic experience of reactor engineering and the world's best research on safety and reliability. The VVER-1200 is characterized by a 20% increased capacity compared to the previous project, a service life of 60 years, with the prospect of extension, a high utilization rate of installed capacity – up to 90%, the ability to maneuver capacity in the interests of the energy system and is capable of operating for 18 months without fuel overload.

The design of a nuclear power plant with a VVER-1200 reactor meets the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Club of European Operating Organizations (EUR, European Utility Requirements for LWR Nuclear Power Plants) and the "post-Fukushima" requirements of WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators Association).

 

Loading of nuclear fuel into the VVER-1200 reactor of the Leningrad NPP

Rosatom's engineering division, depending on the terms of the contract, currently designs, supplies equipment, builds and controls the construction of nuclear power plants with Russian-designed VVER-1200 power units.:

• In Egypt at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant

• In China, at the Xudapu NPP and at units 7-8 of the Tianwan NPP

• In Finland at the Hanhikivi nuclear power plant

• In Turkey at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant

• in Hungary at the Paks-2 NPP

• In Bangladesh at the Ruppur NPP

• in Russia at Kursk NPP-2

• in Belarus at the Belarusian nuclear power plant

During the construction of four NPP units, more than 24,000 specialists are provided with jobs, export income with high added value is received, and long-term strategic relations with each partner country are being built.

 Nuclear power industry in the service

 

If something happens in the reactor room itself, then all the radioactivity will remain inside this shell. For example, if the water in the reactor turns into steam and, like in a giant kettle, presses on the lid from the inside, then the shell will withstand this. Protection systems prevent explosive hydrogen from accumulating in the power unit and independently remove heat from the shell in any emergency situations.

Nuclear power plants have active safety systems operated by humans, and there are also passive ones, whose protective effect is completely independent of the operator.

One of the most important passive safety systems of a nuclear power plant is a melt trap. For the first time, the Tianwan NPP in China, built according to a Russian project, was equipped with a trap. Now such systems are installed at all nuclear power plants designed by Rosatom.

Safety system of Russian nuclear power plants

Four highly effective barriers:

• The first – fuel pellet, prevents the release of radiation under the shell of the fuel element (fuel element).

• Second – the fuel element shell itself is made of zirconium alloy, which prevents radiation from entering the coolant (water) of the main circulation circuit.

• Third – main circulation circuit, prevents fission products from escaping under a protective sealed shell.

 

• Fourth – a system of protective sealed shells that can withstand an airplane crash, tornado, hurricane or explosion, enormous internal pressure and the external impact of a shock wave. A modern Russian nuclear power plant can withstand even an earthquake of up to eight magnitude.

 

Construction of Tianwan NPP-2, China

The trap is a cold crucible

It is located under the nuclear reactor of the nuclear power plant and is filled with the so-called "sacrificial" material of iron oxides and boric acid, which allows you to instantly shut down a nuclear reaction. The passive system is called because in the event of a hypothetical accident, the molten fuel falls into a refractory glass and remains in it without the participation of a human factor, but only under the influence of the force of Earth's gravity.

According to the requirements of the IAEA, all nuclear power plants are equipped with backup autonomous mobile diesel generators and mobile pumping units in order to exclude events similar to those that occurred in 2011 at the Japanese Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant.

A modern nuclear power plant is a reliable, stable and powerful source of energy. The electricity generated by the NPP goes to the general energy system, reaching industrial consumers, settlements and any facilities where it is needed. Nuclear power plants are environmentally friendly energy, since a nuclear power plant does not pollute the atmosphere with harmful elements and is not a source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Among other things, a nuclear power plant is also one of the most beautiful industrial facilities created by mankind. You can verify this by looking at the pictures of the stations built by Rosatom's Engineering Division.

 


What will be the nuclear power plant of the future?

Today, Rosatom specialists are creating the image of the nuclear power industry of the future. As a single team, designers, constructors, and builders develop the latest projects and implement innovative developments, increasing efficiency and optimizing technological solutions for energy facilities. The industry's development prospects have been determined for years to come.

Rosatom's engineering division has developed a 3+ generation VVER-1200E reactor project adapted to the requirements of the supervisory authorities of European countries. Nuclear power plants of this design will be built in Hungary and Finland. 

 

The main advantage of the VVER-1200E is the increased safety level of the units against external influences and internal failures. The applied safety systems and barriers exclude the release of radioactivity into the environment and serve as physical protection against natural disasters, man-made accidents and other emergency situations.

Another unique development of the Engineering Division –
the VVER-TOI reactor

It can be called evolutionary, since it is based on the technical solutions of the VVER-1200 nuclear power plant project. 

A number of VVER-TOI characteristics, including:

• optimization of construction time up to 40 months

• reduction of the cost of construction by 20%

• reduced operating costs by 10% compared to the previous generation project
they allow VVER-TOI to successfully compete in the global market in terms of technical and economic parameters

The VVER-TOI project has applied a number of additional safety measures for earthquake resistance and hypothetical severe accidents. In addition, without any modifications, the unit can be operated using so-called MOX fuel. 

In 2019, the VVER-TOI project was recognized as meeting the requirements of the Club of European Operating Organizations (EUR). To date, the VVER-TOI project is being implemented at the Kursk NPP-2 site in Russia and at the Akkuyu NPP site in Turkey.

Manufacture of the bottom of the VVER-TOI reactor vessel for Kursk NPP-2

Rosatom's Engineering Division also acts as the general designer of nuclear power plants with fast neutron reactors. The Russian nuclear industry has accumulated a unique practical experience in the creation and long-term successful operation of reactors of this type. They are associated with the prospect of switching nuclear energy to a closed fuel cycle, ensuring the most efficient use of uranium resources and solving environmental problems of SNF and RW management.

In 2015, the world's first and only BN-800 reactor unit began operation at the Beloyarsk NPP in Russia. In addition to generating electricity, the unit solves a number of important tasks, ensuring the development of a scientific and research base for the latest high–power fast neutron NPP project, the BN-1200.

BN-800 power unit of Beloyarsk NPP

Source: TASS

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