At the site of Leningrad NPP-2 (a part of Rosatom Electric Energy Division) the physical start-up program of the innovative 3+ generation power unit No 1 with VVER-1200 reactor is completed. The testing - foreseen at this stage and carried out at the power level of less than 1% (MCP) - was carried out completely.

The Head of the Nuclear Safety and Reliability Department of Leningrad NPP under construction Andrey Kolychev said that the received measurements of neutronic characteristics of the reactor core corresponded to the design ones. There were no deviation from programs and procedures in the process of testing, as well as remarks on the system and equipment work at the physical start-up stage. The designed protective and block systems function in a proper manner. In accordance with the requirements of the normative and administrative documents of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC the monitoring system of nuclear, radiological, fire and industrial safety is set up and functions well. “After the conducted testing the final state of power unit No 1 of LNPP-2 corresponds to the requirements of process procedure for the state of the reactor in a hot condition”, A.Kolychev added.

In his turn, the Chief Engineer of the LNPP under construction Aleksandr Belyaev – when summarizing the work done – noted, “The testing was successful. We proved that the first reactor fuel load was performed correctly. Its safe operation is guaranteed. I think that the results of the testing won’t interfere with the next stage – the power start-up.”

At the present time, the documents for the receiving Rostekhnadzor’s permission for the beginning of the Power Start-Up are prepared. During this stage the capacity of the reactor unit will be gradually increased to the level necessary for the turbine generator start and the power unit’s connection to the network.

The power start-up of LNPP-2 power unit No 1 and the beginning of the pilot operation in accordance with the schedule are planned for this spring.

It is to be recalled that today’s most powerful power units with VVER-1200 water-water power reactors being constructed at LNPP-2 are of the newest 3+ generation. They are implemented with the most advanced achievements and developments corresponding to all post-Fukushima requirements. Such units are unique and have no analogs in the world. The first such power unit was started in the end of 2016 at NVNPP-2 (the town of Novovoronezh). In comparison with the traditional power units of this type VVER-1200 has a number of advantages that significantly increase its economic characteristics and safety. The main feature of VVER-1200 is the unique mix of active and passive safety systems that make the plant sustainable to external and internal actions. In particular, a melt trap – the device for localization of nuclear reactor core melt, an afterheat removal passive system (ARPS) through steam generators designed for provision of the long term heat transfer from the reactor core into the atmosphere in case there are no other sources of electric power supply, etc are used at the unit with VVER-1200 reactor.