On 5 October, 2017 at the Floating Power Unit (FPU) Akademik Lomonosov being constructed by Baltiysky Zavod – Sudostroyeniye LLC (Saint Petersburg) the flushing of the primary circuit systems of both reactor units (RU) has been completed.

The specialists have completed this important stage of commissioning works at the FPU -carried out in order to confirm the reliability of equipment and technological systems’ operation – prior to the scheduled date (with unquestioning compliance with the quality). Before, it was scheduled that works would be completed in the end of this November. The reduction of terms was due to good planning, coherent activity management, close collaboration with contracting organizations, etc.

The flushing of the primary circuit system is one of the most important events that confirms the completion of all assembly works both on the primary circuit equipment and systems servicing the equipment. During this technological process the performance reliability of the primary circuit equipment (for example, circulating pumps that provide the reliable heat extraction from the reactor core and identify the allowed capacity level), as well as the assembly accuracy of safety system are checked.

In addition, during the flushing the primary circuit system is checked for strength and leak-tight integrity. The primary circuit water is cleaned to the designed parameters; it is necessary in order to clean the circuit from the possible post-assembly contamination and to reduce the corrosion possibility to the minimum.

Thus, the flushing of the RU primary circuit is the final procedure that in fact completes the FPU reactor and its’ subsystems assembly.

At the present time the specialists of the plant carry on the works on the FPU preparation to the complex dock trials (CDT) including the flushing of the secondary circuit systems of both the FPU reactor units (RU). The testing of the systems and equipment of the floating power unit at the design parameters including the check of fuelling complex equipment will continue until the end of this year.

After the completion of the dock trials and the works on the FPU preparation to transportation, it will be hauled to Murmansk at the FSUE Atomflot in May 2018 where in October 2018 the nuclear fuel will be loaded in the reactor, and in November the FPU will be started up. 

It is to be recalled that this autumn Rosatom State Corporation has decided to change the location of nuclear fuel loading and carrying out of complex dock trials of the FPU from Saint Petersburg to Murmansk. This decision was made in respect of interests of a number of European countries and neighbourship with Western partners. The change of location of the FPU finishing construction will not lead to the change of the FNPP commissioning; it will take place as planned – in the end of 2019 in Pevek (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug).

Today, at the future placement area of the FNPP the works on hydraulic engineering structures (HES) and onshore infrastructure are in progress. The works on pile sinking at the coast protection area, approach dam, connecting area of breakwater-pier have already been completed. The formation of anchor and cross bar system, the construction of superstructure are in progress. The works on pile sinking at sea area of breakwater-pier have been started. The works on vertical leveling of construction site for onshore infrastructure are in progress.

The floating power unit (FPU) Akademik Lomonosov of project No 20870 is designed for operation as part of the Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP). The time-proved technologies of marine (ice-breaker) reactor plants is the basis of the project. The FPU has two steam-generation units with KLT-40S reactors of 35 MW.