Director of the Smolensk NPP Alexander Vasilyev - about the prospects for the development of the largest energy company in the Smolensk region and its contribution to the regional economy.
- Alexander Ivanovich, tell us about the investment program and activities of the Smolensk NPP in the coming years in connection with the extension of the operating life of power units. How was the modernization of equipment and systems carried out, what unique moments can be identified, how much money was spent on it?
- Before starting a conversation about the prospects for the development of the Smolensk NPP, I would like to say a few words in general about the largest energy enterprise in the Smolensk region. It is no secret that Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant has been safely and uninterruptedly supplying consumers with a high-quality product for 33 years - environmentally friendly electrical and thermal energy. Smolensk NPP is the main taxpayer in the region, making a significant contribution to its economic well-being. It is a responsible employer that provides decent conditions and wages for staff, takes care of their health, and supports young people and pensioners. 
The design 30-year service life of operating NPPs was determined in the 50–60s of the last century and reflects some conservatism of the accepted calculation base for its justification. Many years of experience in the operation of nuclear power plants, actual operating data on equipment wear and tear, modern achievements in science and technology make it possible today to revise the previously established service life of power units and the timing of decommissioning of NPP equipment. Practice and studies have shown that the power unit is capable of operating much longer than the range of 30 years previously determined by the designers, and therefore one of the objectives of the investment program for the development of nuclear power plants was the modernization and extension of the operating life of power units by an average of 15-25 years while increasing their safety by 1.5-2 orders. This policy of the nuclear industry is supported by the leadership of the state.
At the Smolensk NPP, work on the preparation of power unit No. 1 for an additional service life started back in 2002. In the course of a comprehensive survey of the power unit, the fundamental possibility of operating non-replaceable elements (graphite masonry, reactor metal structures, foundations, bases), as well as the power unit as a whole beyond the design life, was determined, the elements to be replaced due to the exhaustion of the resource were determined. The audit did not reveal any factors hindering the further safe operation of the "first-born" Smolensk NPP. During the large-scale modernization and reconstruction of the first power unit, a colossal amount of work was carried out. A number of systems have been modernized: control and management of the reactor plant, emergency cooling of the reactor, radiation monitoring, the Skala centralized control system has been replaced with a modern Skala-micro automated system, and an automated coolant leak detection system has been introduced. The building structures of the "hot" rooms of the power unit were strengthened, all technological channels, thermal mechanical and electrical equipment, which had exhausted its resource, were replaced. After that, an in-depth and comprehensive safety assessment of the power unit was carried out, and the personnel were trained to operate the newly installed and modernized equipment. 
The life extension work for Unit 1 was completed in December 2011, one year before the end of its designated life. Their cost amounted to about 8 billion rubles. In December 2012, a license was obtained from the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision for the operation of a nuclear installation in an additional period for a period of 15 years until 2027. For three years now, the renovated power unit has been in the "line" of the operating ones.
A similar amount of modernization work was carried out at the second unit. The work was completed in May 2014. The cost of the work amounted to about 10 billion rubles. The operating life of power unit No. 2 has been extended by 15 years, until 2030. Ahead is the modernization of the third power unit, the design life cycle of which ends in five years. A comprehensive survey was also carried out, an investment project, design estimates were developed, and equipment for repairs was supplied.
The leading scientific, design and engineering organizations of Russia, the best domestic manufacturers of equipment for nuclear power plants, installation and repair organizations, and nuclear power plant specialists are participating in the work to extend the life of all three power units of the Smolensk NPP. The result of their great joint work allows extending the life of the power units of the Smolensk NPP, ensuring their safe and reliable operation. 
- How many jobs will be saved or increased, will tax payments increase during the period for which the construction of a new nuclear power plant is postponed?
Smolensk NPP is a city-forming enterprise, therefore, most of its able-bodied population works at the nuclear power plant or in contracting organizations. Thus, Smolensk NPP provides jobs for more than 7 thousand people.
Until the commissioning of the replacement capacities - Smolensk NPP-2, the personnel of the nuclear power plant and contractors will be provided with work, since, as I have already said, the operating life of the power units has been extended. Nevertheless, the number of staff at the Smolensk plant, as well as at all other nuclear power plants of the Rosenergoatom concern, will decrease over time. And here, I would like to emphasize, this is not about reducing staff, but about optimizing the number, that is, the withdrawal of non-core (auxiliary) functions and the personnel performing them to contractor organizations. The optimization process is inevitable, since labor productivity and, as a result, an increase in the competitiveness of the enterprise directly depend on it. Thus, we have already partially outsourced the repair functions to OAO Atomenergoremont, the decontamination of equipment and cleaning of the nuclear power plant premises - to SAES-Service LLC. In fact, all these people continue to work at the Smolensk NPP.
Now about taxes. Tax payments from Smolensk NPP to the regional budget tend to grow from year to year, and this is a clear confirmation that during the postponement of the construction of Smolensk NPP-2, the budget filling will not decrease. All programs implemented at the Smolensk NPP are directly related to the increase in tax revenues. In particular, significant investments in the modernization of existing units in order to extend their service life lead to an increase in the cost of fixed assets, and hence to an increase in the share of income tax when it is distributed by a consolidated group of taxpayers between regions. In addition, investments in modernization increase the property tax, which is fully transferred to the budget of the Smolensk region.
Tell us about how the work on the construction of SNPP-2 is going?
It would not be superfluous to recall that the Smolensk NPP-2 project has always been considered as a project for a nuclear power plant to replace the existing power units of the Smolensk NPP. Thus, the commissioning of the first power unit of SNPP-2 should take place after the decommissioning of the first power unit of the operating nuclear power plant, in 2027. The VVER-TOI project was chosen for SNPP-2 - these are advanced reactors of increased safety and reliability that meet all modern world norms and standards.
Preparations for the construction of a replacement nuclear power plant are proceeding in accordance with the approved schedule of activities. To date, a lot has been done: engineering surveys have been carried out at the site, an assessment of the impact of future construction on the environment has been completed and its public discussions have been held, materials have been developed to justify the license for the placement of replacement power units. Design surveys have been completed and an act on the selection of a land plot for the construction of new facilities has been drawn up. Documents on the transfer of land to industrial use are undergoing the approval procedure in state bodies. In the future, it is necessary to carry out the entire range of preparatory work and obtain at the state level all the necessary permits for the placement and construction of replacement power units at SNPP-2. 
Smolensk NPP is the city-forming, leading enterprise of the region, the largest in the fuel and energy balance of the region. Annually, the station produces an average of 20 billion kWh of electricity, which is more than 80% of the total amount generated by the energy enterprises of the Smolensk region.
Smolensk NPP operates three power units with RBMK-1000. The first stage belongs to the second generation of nuclear power plants with RBMK-1000 reactors, the second stage - to the third.
Smolensk NPP was repeatedly recognized as the winner of the industry competition "The Best NPP of Russia" (in 1992 and 1993), in 1999 it entered the top three.
In 2000, the nuclear power plant took first place in the competition "Russian Organization of High Social Efficiency"; in 2006 it was awarded the title of "Best NPP in Russia" in an industry competition in the field of safety culture;
in 2007, it was the first NPP in Russia to receive an international certificate of conformity of the quality management system to the ISO 9001:2000 standard and was recognized as the best NPP in Russia in terms of ensuring social safety and work with personnel.
In 2009, SNPP received a certificate of compliance of the environmental management system with the requirements of the national standard GOST R ISO 14001-2007 and was recognized as the best NPP in Russia in the field of "Physical Protection".
In 2011, Smolensk NPP became the winner in the competition "Best NPP in Russia" based on the results of 2010 and was recognized as the best NPP in terms of safety culture. As part of the implementation of the program to extend the service life of the Smolensk NPP, a major overhaul and modernization of power unit No. 1 was carried out.
In 2011, Smolensk NPP: confirmed the compliance of the occupational safety and health management system with the international standard OHSAS 18001:2007, as well as the compliance of the environmental management system with the national standard GOST R ISO 14001-2007; recognized as the Concern's best plant in the field of safety culture; received a "Certificate of Trust in the Employer" based on the results of an audit by the State Labor Inspectorate for the Smolensk Region.
The nuclear power plant is located in the Smolensk region, the distance to the satellite city (the city of Desnogorsk) is 3 km; to the regional center (city of Smolensk) - 150 km.
Installed electric power — 3000 MW.
Smolensk NPP, news:
Photo of Smolensk NPP:
On Friday, I went on a press tour at the Smolensk NPP. We were shown the operation of the station, taken to all the main premises of the nuclear power plant and given a look at the holy of holies - a nuclear reactor. Such excursions are held regularly, but filming there is strictly prohibited. We filmed almost everything that is possible and even some of what is impossible.
Some background information:
Smolensk NPP is the largest energy enterprise in the northwestern region of the country's unified energy system with a capacity of 3,000 MW. In the period from 1982 to 1990, three power units were put into operation at the Smolensk NPP (1st - 12/25/82, 2nd - 05/30/85 and 3rd - 01/30/90) with improved design RMBC-1000 reactors with a number of advanced systems that ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants. To date, over 283 billion kWh have been generated at three power units over 18 years. electricity. During operation, each power unit proved to be reliable, safe and competitive. The Smolensk power plant has repeatedly been recognized as the best among nuclear power plants in Russia and was noted by the operating Energoatom Concern OJSC for good results in terms of safety, operational stability and production efficiency. For 17 years of operation, the SPP has practically not changed the state of the environment, the radiation background in the area of the plant location remains at the natural level for the entire period of operation of the power units.
Roman Petrov, an employee of the press service, carried out safety procedures on the bus.
Electrical substation next to the nuclear power plant.
First, they held a small press conference.
We were taken further. They made me take off my socks and shoes, and gave me disposable beige socks and flip-flops. They were dressed in white coats and bonnets, and put on helmets over them. After ten meters, the flip-flops were asked to be removed and dressed in the same beige slippers.
The first sightseeing object was the machine room.
Nuclear lift. There are no floors here, only heights above sea level :)
General view of the SNPP power unit.
At every corner there is a radiation control rack. Everyone passing by is obliged to put their hands on it and find out their radiation "purity".
And this is the "heart" of the nuclear power plant - the central hall. Under these cubes is the RBMK-1000 nuclear reactor (exactly the same as at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant).
The high-power reactor (channel) is located in a reinforced concrete shaft and is a system of channels with fuel assemblies installed in it. The channels pass through a graphite stack that serves as a neutron moderator. Inlet and outlet communications, circulation pumps and large diameter pipelines form a circuit for removing heat from the channels. Chemically demineralized water is used as a heat carrier.
To regulate and maintain the power of the reactor, there are 211 control and protection rods (CPS). CPS rods are made of materials that absorb neutrons, their number and rate of introduction into the core are guaranteed to meet the requirements of nuclear safety during start-up, operation at power and shutdown of the reactor.
This is the BCR - Block Control Panel. It is from here that the entire nuclear power plant is controlled. Here you can shut down the reactor or blow everything to hell if the specialist makes a mistake. Fortunately, the Simpson Homers are not kept at the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant.
Smoking is prohibited throughout the station, there are no smoking rooms. And although this violates the Tobacco Control Act, it seems to me that such a decision is correct. Moreover, all employees of the station undergo daily medical control before starting work.
Before leaving - the same mandatory radiation control.
A parting shot, and we leave the nuclear power plant itself. Our next stop is the disaster simulation training center.
They show us the control room simulator and work out several emergency situations with us.
The instructor tells some things, but I don’t understand anything - I taught physics badly at school.
I'm more interested in sensors and buttons. There will be a whole bunch of them!
Buttons interested not only me, but also Leo Kaganov.
Then we were taken to a trout farm.
Russia. The annual electricity generation exceeds the planned 20,099 million kWh, which indicates the reliability of the station.
Station power
The capacity of three power units, each 1000 MW, provides 8% of the electricity generation in the Central region. Their share in the Smolensk region is overwhelming - over 80%. Utilization rate (2010) - 79.26%. Six high-voltage lines fan out from the SPP:
- Belarusian and Bryansk with a capacity of 750 kV.
- Mikhailovskaya and Kaluga - 500 kV each.
- Roslavl 1 and 2 - 330 kV.
In fact, the nuclear power plant of the same name is 150 km away from Smolensk. It is located in the southeastern part of the region, not far from Roslavl. The city of power engineers - Desnogorsk - is three kilometers from the station. The distance to the capital is 350 km, to neighboring Bryansk - 180 km.
Safety
Smolensk NPP is quite safe. A well-established technical process, well-chosen personnel, the strictest observance of the work schedule, and multi-stage control do their job: no major or minor accidents have been recorded at the SNPP in two decades. Full compliance with ISO 14001-2007.
Every year, large volumes of preventive scheduled work are carried out to extend the life of power units. The all-Russian production system "Rosatom" is being introduced: which started at repair sites and in the warehouse, it was developed in the "Efficient Office" project. It is aimed at improving office and management processes, eliminating existing temporary, qualitative, and financial losses. One of the directions of the project is "Organization of workplaces for office workers according to the 5C system".
SNPP subdivisions are constantly improving their work. In 2010, the station was recognized as the best nuclear power plant in the Russian Federation at the end of the year, in 2007 - the enterprise with the best physical protection. The staff has repeatedly been recognized as the best in safety culture, environmental protection, and accounting. Enterprise security criteria:
- Formation of the correct behavior of personnel in order to prevent errors.
- Ensuring the integrity of defense in depth.
- Conscious use of error prevention tools.
When implementing the policy in the field of the human factor, the management of Smolensk NPP implements the following principles:
The leaders of all levels of the plant personally demonstrate high standards of correct behavior as an example for all the personnel of the Smolensk NPP.
Story
The Smolensk NPP, whose photo looks impressive against the backdrop of the reservoir, has been history since 1976. The first power unit was commissioned on 12/09/1982, the second - on 05/31/1985, the third - on 01/17/1990. Perestroika fever prevented the construction of the originally planned fourth unit.
The project of power units RMBK-1000 was adopted as the base one. However, their design has been improved in the direction of increased safety. The experience of Chernobyl proved the correctness of this position.
Processing of radioactive waste is the most important problem of nuclear energy. In 2001 a processing complex was built. The liquid waste storage facility accepts radioactive waste, temporarily stores and releases the distillation residue for further processing.
prospects
Smolensk NPP is approaching the threshold of operation. Already obsolete single-loop blocks RBMK-1000 are less and less meeting the requirements of economic efficiency. During 2020-30, the reactors are planned to be decommissioned one by one. However, Smolensk NPP does not intend to give up its position as an energy leader. The official website pleases with the information that the competent authorities have decided to build three modern reactors instead of the decommissioned capacities.
To maintain competitiveness, the nuclear power industry needs a deep modernization. The state corporation recognizes that a lot needs to be changed, but it will not work out all at once. Growth points are needed to show the direction for change and serve as beacons for others. One of these beacons will be the Smolensk NPP. Having perfectly mastered the tools of the Rosatom production system, she must create a standard for high-quality, efficient work with maximum savings in effort.
According to official data, on January 24, 2012, the General Director of the Rosenergoatom Concern, E. Romanov, approved a long-term plan for the construction of the second SNPP. On October 10, 2012, the Governor of the Smolensk region gave his consent to the deployment of two new power units in the region. The State Corporation Rosatom has signed an order to start organizing work on the construction of Smolensk NPP-2. Construction is scheduled for 2016.
According to the General Director of SNPP, moving forward at a given pace can be ensured by the coordinated work of all project participants. A very tight schedule of upcoming events will require the utmost concentration of the existing potential and the organization of a clear interaction between the specialists involved in the implementation of the project to prepare for the construction of new power units.
At the site of the future SNPP-2 (the former village of Pyatidvorka in the Roslavl district), the Desnogorsk branch of Atomenergoproekt is completing the field work on engineering surveys required for the development of project documentation.
The expanded Smolensk NPP is also beneficial for the Roslavl region. Large investors come, new production - new jobs.
Smolensk NPP: contacts
- Postal address: Smolensk region, Desnogorsk, Smolensk NPP;
- answering machine: 8(48153)32124;
- personnel service: 8(48153)71357;
- for general questions: 8(48153)72350; 70611;
- director's office: 8(48153)72350;
- chief engineer: 8(48153)72351;
- purchasing center: 8(48153)33042; 70415;
- environmental protection: 8(48153)74769;
- fax, teletype, e-mail: 8(48153)74769;
- documentation department: 8(48153)70798;
- configuration management: 8(48153)73855; 33055;
- department of social development: 8(48153)73402;
- press center: 8(48153)73378.
Smolensk NPP is located in the Smolensk region, 3 kilometers from the city of Desnogorsk. Smolensk NPP is the largest energy enterprise in the North-West region.
The total power of the station is 3000 MW. Reactors of the RMBK-1000 type are in operation. The first block was put into commercial operation in December 1982, the second - in 1985, the third - in 1990.
Initially, it was planned to build two stages of two blocks each, but in 1986 the construction of the fourth block was stopped due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
We've got a shift. Each shift works 8 hours, the station works around the clock.
At the entrance, each person must pass through the metal detectors, then go to a special booth, attach a pass. When the doors open, the employee enters the booth, enters the secret code and puts his palm to scan the biometrics of the hand. It also checks the picture of the face, as well as the weight of the employee! Permissible discrepancy - no more than 10 kg.
There is also a scoreboard.
About 30 thousand people live in the city, the enterprise is a city-forming enterprise. The number of station employees is about 4.5 thousand people! About 4 thousand people cooperate with the station.
Fish are also bred at the station, the annual discharge of fish is about 40 tons. At the reservoir all year round the water temperature is 28 degrees Celsius!
Around the nuclear power plant there is an observation zone with a radius of 30 kilometers! Soil and water analysis and background radiation measurements are constantly carried out.
Also, 11 springs have been landscaped, they are famous among the locals as holy springs.
Everyone is dressed in special white clothes: hats, socks, shirts, bathrobes, boots, gloves, ear plugs and helmets.
A special counter is also issued, which measures the radiation background on the body.
The main circulation pumps carry out continuous circulation of the coolant in each loop of the multiple forced circulation circuit. There are 4 in total, but 3 are working, the other is a backup.
Water is directed by pumps to the pressure collector, and from it to the distributing group collectors, from where it is supplied to the technological channels of the reactor, where it heats up and partially evaporates, outlet pressure: 70 kgf / cm 2, temperature: 284.5 degrees.
Then the steam-water mixture is fed into separator drums, where the water is separated from the steam. The separated water is returned to the suction manifolds of the main circulation pumps through downpipes, which circulate it multiple times through the reactor. The steam from the separator drums is directed to the turbines by heat pipes.
The productivity of the main circulation pump is 8000 m3/h, the engine power is 5.5 MW. The MCP is a complex unit with an autonomous oil supply system and a sealing system that excludes external leakage of contour water.
We rise to a height of 35.5 meters.
A couple of turns along the corridors and we get into the reactor hall. Passing the corridors, we step on a special sticky paper, to which the dust from the sole sticks.
The reactor is located in a reinforced concrete shaft measuring 21.6 x 21.6 x 25.5 m. The reactor shaft is lined with graphite masonry. Graphite acts as a neutron moderator and reflector to return neutrons to the core with their subsequent participation in the chain reaction of fission of the nuclei of the U 235 atom.
Inside the graphite columns there are through holes in which technological channels are placed. Inside each channel, a fuel cartridge is placed, consisting of fuel elements - an ampoule with fuel - has a diameter of about 12 mm and a height of 3.5 m. Two fuel assemblies connected in series, containing 18 fuel elements each, form a fuel cartridge, the length of which is 7 m.
The uranium-graphite, channel-type reactor RBMK is a source of thermal energy and a steam producer at SPP. The fuel for the nuclear reaction taking place in the reactor is uranium U 235, enriched to 2.6-2.8%. The nuclear reaction that occurs during the decay of U 235 nuclei is accompanied by the release of a huge amount of energy, which is used to produce steam.
The advantage of RBMK reactors over vessel-type reactors, in which the replacement of spent cassettes requires a shutdown of the reactor, is the possibility of reloading the cassettes when the reactor is operating at rated power. Reloading is carried out by an unloading and loading machine (RZM), which is controlled remotely. The machine is hermetically joined to the upper part of the technological channel, the pressure in it is equalized with the pressure in the channel, then the spent fuel cartridge is removed and a fresh one is installed in its place.
The spent fuel is placed first in the spent fuel pools located in the central hall and then transported to the spent nuclear fuel storage facility.
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to photograph the glow of the water in the cooling pools.
At a depth of 20 meters, a blue glow is visible. This is the Vavilov-Cherenkov effect - a glow caused in a transparent medium by a charged particle that moves at a speed exceeding the phase velocity of light in this medium. Cherenkov radiation is widely used in high-energy physics to detect relativistic particles and determine their velocities.
Radiation background in the reactor hall is 7 microroentgen per hour.
We are transferred to the block control center. In the elevator, we notice the numbers near the buttons - this is the height at which the floor is located.
Block control panel is designed for centralized automated control of technological processes. In case of failure of the control panel, the block is stopped and the state of its systems and equipment is monitored from the backup control panel.
Smolensk NPP is the most reliable NPP in Russia and one of the 10 best NPPs in the world.
In fact, only the name remained of its reactors; after the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the reactors were heavily modernized.
If all the workers who manage the station try to bring the station to an explosion similar to Chernobyl, nothing will come of it, since the automated control system will shut down the reactor and nothing will happen.
There are 3 consoles on the block control panel, each of which has a lead engineer responsible for the equipment assigned to him.
The lead control engineer of the unit directly controls and controls the equipment of the safety panels: the multiple forced circulation circuit, the steam extraction and distribution system, etc.
The leading turbine control engineer directly monitors and controls the turbine generators, their auxiliary systems and the unit's auxiliary consumers.
The leading reactor control engineer directly monitors and controls the reactor using a control and protection system, a system for monitoring and regulating the coolant flow through the reactor channels, temperature control systems, etc.
We put on earplugs and stomp into the turbine hall.
The hall is about 600 meters long. Turbines, generators and a complex pipeline system are installed here, here the water heated in the reactor circuit is converted into electricity.
The turbine is a five-cylinder unit: a high pressure cylinder and four low pressure cylinders. First, steam is generated in a high-pressure cylinder (from 69.5 kgf/cm2 to 2.5 kgf/cm2, at a temperature of 280 degrees), then it is dried and heated in superheater separators and distributed over four low-pressure cylinders.
The generator is three-phase, with hydrogen-cooled rotor and water-cooled stator. Generator output voltage 20 kV, frequency 50 Hz. After the generators, the voltage is increased by block transformers up to 500 kV, and through open distribution devices, electricity enters the unified power system.
All rotors of the turbine and generator cylinders are combined into one shaft. Shaft speed - 3000 rpm. The total length of the turbogenerator is 39 m, its weight is 1200 tons.
To return to your usual clothes, you need to go through a double radiation control system. Primary takes place in clothes, you can measure the background of the technique.
If you are not clean enough for the control system, it will not let you in and you are forced to clean the pollution from a certain point of the body.
Secondary passes when you are stripped to your underpants, if you are dirty, then you must wash in a special shower.
The key to the SAES.
Soviet canteen.
In addition, SNPP conducts active social work in Desnogorsk. Helps schools, kindergartens and cultural centers. Desnogorsk is also the only city in which there is a natural increase in population.
Have I gained more confidence in nuclear power plants? Certainly yes. Having seen the entire technological process with my own eyes, I realized that reliability is above all here and began to only have a positive attitude towards nuclear power plants.