26.12.2019  INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF LENINGRAD NPP

The turbine of the 2nd VVER-1200 power block under construction has been spun for the first time at the Leningrad NPP

One of the key milestones of 2019 has been achieved at the Leningrad NPP 2nd power block under construction: the team has completed the process of placing the turbine onto the turning gear. The first barring speed of revolution was one rotation per minute. When the block reaches its full capacity, the turbine will spin at 3,000 rpm.

‘We have confirmed that the assembly and the alignment of all turbine water passage elements have been completed almost perfectly, no interference has been detected during the turbine generator revolution. The hydrolift, lubrication, oil cooling and heating systems, among other things, have been verified and adjusted. As a results, we have proven that the turbine will operate safely and reliably, with no increase in vibration and bearing runout’, Alexander Belyaev, the chief engineer of the Leningrad NPP-2, said.

Vladimir Pereguda, the director of the Leningrad NPP, noted: ‘A turbine is the second most complicated piece of machinery at an NPP following a reactor. Our joint team made of people from the general contractor, the adjustment personnel and the Leningrad NPP staff worked hard and spent many hours to deliver the job on time and with due quality. I would like to thank everyone involved for taking ownership in what they did, being true professionals and being persistent to achieve their goals. Our common work makes the launch of the second power block a reality’.

The physical launch of the 2nd VVER-1200 power block is planned for Q2 2020, which will be followed by the pilot run and the connection to the grid. It is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2021.

Compared to the traditional VVER-1000 power blocks, the design of the modern 3+ generation Leningrad NPP has a lot of advantages that improve its economic parameters and security. For instance, the electric capacity of the reactor facility has been increased by 20%, from 1,000 to 1,200 MW; the primary equipment life span has doubled, going from 30 to 60 years. In the meantime, the power block complies with the strictest international nuclear safety requirements.

The Leningrad NPP-2 project is a benchmark for several international projects by the Rosatom State Corporation including the Belarusian NPP, the Paks-2 NPP, the El Dabaa NPP, the Hanhikivi-1 NPP, etc.

The Leningrad NPP is the country’s first plant with RBMK-1000 reactors (uranium-graphite circuit-type reactor running on thermal neutrons). The decision that marked its construction was taken in September 1966 by a resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR and the Council of Ministers No. 800-252. According to that document, the Leningrad NPP was supposed to become a core in a network of nuclear power plants with RBMK-1000 reactors that were supposed to produce a substantial share of electric power. The construction of the Leningrad NPP was going well, and by 1973 the first power block was fully erected. On December 23, 1973, following stable 72-hours’ operation at the capacity of 150 megawatt, the State Commission signed the acceptance certificate stating that the first power block of the Leningrad nuclear power plant is commissioned for pilot production.rship.


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