Kola NPP

Kola NPP

Largest energy provider
in the Murmansk Region

200 km

from Murmansk

The power plant produces over 10 bln kWh of electric energy annually. The plant’s share in the energy mix of the region exceeds 60%.

Safety enhancement measures have been regularly implemented at Kola NPP since 1989. The power plant steadily operates in a harsh Arctic environment and supplies electric energy to a major part of the large-scale industrial enterprises of the Murmansk Region and such cities as Murmansk, Apatity, Monchegorsk, Olenegorsk, Kandalaksha, as well as the northern part of Karelia.

  • 9,424mln kWh

    of electric power were generated by the NPP in 2020

  • 1,760MW

    plant installed capacity

Start-up of power units

  • 01

    VVER-440

    440 MW

    1973

  • 02

    VVER-440

    440 MW

    1974

  • 03

    VVER-440

    440 MW

    1981

  • 04

    VVER-440

    440 MW

    1984

reactor type

installed capacity

operational

Nuclear power plant configuration

VVER type reactors with the capacity of 440 MW are the “heart” of Kola NPP

VVER reactor unit

Four power units with 440 MW VVER type reactors generate electricity at Kola NPP. The first power unit of Kola NPP was started up on June 29, 1973.

A large-scale upgrade of phase 1 power units was successfully completed in 2019. This made it possible to enhance their safety level substantially and to extend their life until 2033 and 2034. Kola NPP became the only nuclear power plant in Russia where a program of repeated life extension for two power units has been implemented.

VVER is a shell-type water-cooled water-moderatedpower reactor. Demineralized water is the coolant and the neutron moderator.

VVER reactor unit

Low enriched uranium dioxide is used as a fuel in the reactor core.

The sealed protective containment structure prevents any external effects or radionuclide release into the environment. The process flow scheme of Kola NPP power units includes two circuits.

The primary circuit consists of the reactor, main circulation pumps, steam generators, and a pressurizer. The coolant in the primary circuit is high-purity water under a pressure of 12.5 MPa.

Water is pumped by the main circulation pumps through the reactor core, where it is heated up to 300 degrees due to heat generated as a result of the nuclear reaction. Water in the primary circuit transfers heat to water of the secondary circuit through metal walls of the heat-exchange tubes in the steam generator and returns to the reactor. Radioactive elements contained in water in the primary circuit cannot penetrate the secondary circuit, which is non-radioactive. It consists of the steam-producing part of the steam generators, the main steam pipes, the turbine unit with a regeneration system, the feed water unit, and several auxiliary systems.

ВВЭР

The secondary circuit is designed for steam generation. Steam is supplied to the steam turbine. The turbine, in its turn, turns a magnet rotor. Electric current is produced as a result of electromagnetic induction. As the magnet rotor is turning, electric current occurs in the winding of the surrounding stator. All that is left to do is to deenergize the winding and transmit electric power to external consumers.

Spent steam is cooled down in condensers and turns into water, which is then delivered back by the pump into the steam generators.

  • 12.5MPa

    pressure in the
    primary circuit

  • 3,000RPM

    turbine rotation
    speed

  • 349

    fuel assemblies
    in the reactor

  • 1,375MW

    heat output of the
    VVER-440 reactor

Process flow chart of Kola NPP

The process flow scheme of each Kola NPP power unit comprises two circuits. The primary circuit consists of the VVER-440 reactor and six circulation loops that include main loop isolation valves, the steam generator, the main circulation pump, pipelines of the main circulation circuit, and the pressurizer.

The secondary circuit is comprised of the steam-producing part of the steam generators, 2 turbines, pipelines, and auxiliary equipment. The steam generators produce saturated steam delivered to the turbine to drive the generator producing electric energy, which is connected with the turbine shaft. Electric power is then transferred to the mains through transformers.

Exhaust steam turns into water in the turbine condensers, which are cooled down by water from Lake Imandra. The power unit parameters and the industrial process are controlled from the main control room (MCR).

Nuclear power plant safety systems

The basic principle of safe operation of a nuclear power plant is to prevent an uncontrolled escape of radioactive products. The power units of Kola NPP have a high safety performance. Their main safety features include the principle of self-protection of the reactor unit, the use of safety barriers (the defense-in-depth concept), and the redundancy of safety.

Defense-in-depth concept

This concept envisages a general strategy focused on NPP safety measures and features. It guarantees that neither a single human error, nor a mechanical failure results in damage to the population. The defense-in-depth helps to ensure the fulfillment of three key safety functions: capacity control, containment of radioactive materials, and prevention of their release into the environment.

Self-protection principle

VVER reactors have a configuration of the reactor core ensuring “self-protection” or “self-regulation” of the reactor. When the reactor power increases and, consequently, the temperature of the reactor core rises, the nuclear reaction dies out due to natural feedback.

In order to stop the chain reaction quickly and efficiently, neutrons involved in this process must be absorbed. An absorber is used to accomplish this. The absorber in the form of rods is inserted into the reactor core to reduce the neutron flux level or to shut down the reactor completely.

Electromagnets are used as the drives for the rods to ensure their immersion into the reactor core. This principle guarantees that the rods will drop even if the power unit is de-energized: the powered down electromagnets will stop holding the absorber rods and they will drop down by gravity.

Another method of stopping the chain fission reaction is to increase the concentration of boric acid in the coolant: where necessary, the boric acid solution is used by numerous emergency systems.

Passive safety systems

Passive safety systems do not require any personnel intervention to be actuated. Passive safety systems at the power units of Kola NPP comprise hydraulic accumulators of the emergency core cooling system. 4 accumulators have been installed at each power unit.

Besides, passive containment systems have installed at the power units of Kola NPP, such as a jet-vortex condenser (units 1 and 2) and an bubble condenser system (units 3 and 4) (a condenser in the form of chutes filled with water with hoods covered by sealed casings on top).

Innovative technologies

Liquid radioactive waste treatment facility

Unique liquid radioactive waste treatment facility

  • 100-fold

    reduction in the liquid radioactive waste amount

  • 500 m³

    volume of one tank with evaporation residue

  • 15 years

    operation of the LRWTF

The unique liquid radioactive waste treatment facility (LRWTF) was commissioned at Kola NPP in 2006. Ion-selective treatment of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) has been implemented in the nuclear industry on an industrial scale for the first time.

The facility is intended for liquid radioactive waste (evaporation residue) removal from storage tanks and radionuclide removal (first line of treatment). The implemented technology makes it possible to concentrate main radionuclides in a minimum volume in a special filtering container ensuring safe storage and burial of conditioned radioactive waste.

The treatment of evaporation residue results in the formation of a hardened salt product (salt melt) that does not fall into the radioactive waste category. This treatment method enables a 100-fold reduction in the amount of radioactive waste to be buried.

The second line of liquid radioactive waste treatment is the cementation of sludge and waste ion-exchange resins. When liquid radioactive waste and cement are mixed with special additives, a cement compound is generated. It is then packed into 1.5 m3 non-reusable protective containers.

Safety and reliability of the processes as well as the results obtained during pilot and commercial operation of the LRWTF opened up the horizons for application of the ion-selective treatment technology and creation of similar facilities at other NPPs of Russia.

In 2017, a project to recover boric acid from evaporation residue treatment products was launched at Kola NPP. Implementation of the boric acid recovery system as part of the LRWTF will enable comprehensive treatment of evaporation residues with minimum generation of secondary waste. Meanwhile, recovered boric acid will be used in the nuclear power industry, as well as the metals and chemical industries.

Environmental safety

Environmental safety is one of the key objectives of Kola NPP

  • 24

    permanent radiation monitoring stations

  • 15

    automated radiation monitoring system (ARMS) stations

The basic principles and obligations in the field of environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, and environmental safety are set forth in the environmental policy of the enterprise.

An integrated management system (IMS) was implemented at the plant in June 2016 in order to improve compliance with the current requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The system is based on a common approach to control of the management of industrial, occupational and environmental safety, quality, financial and economic performance and energy efficiency.

The environmental condition of the premises of the industrial site, the buffer area and the control area of Kola NPP is evaluated as part of industrial environmental control and by supervisory bodies.

For the purposes of radiation monitoring, 24 permanent radiation monitoring stations have been set up around Kola NPP within a 30 km radius, where parameters of atmospheric air, precipitation, soil and vegetation are measured. The external radiation monitoring laboratory of the nuclear power plant monitors the radiation level in surface water bodies, potable water from artesian wells and municipal heat supply systems.

Simultaneously with the radiation monitoring stations, 15 automated radiation monitoring system (ARMS) stations are currently in operation in the buffer area and in the control area.

The information from the ARMS is automatically transmitted to the Emergency Response Center of Rosenergoatom and to the branch ARMS of ROSATOM, and is used to evaluate the actual radiation level in the vicinity of Kola NPP.

Over the entire period of operation of Kola NPP, no adverse impact on the environment has been observed.

Social responsibility

Kola NPP is a responsible corporate citizen

The plant pays over 2 billion rubles in taxes on an annual basis, primarily to the regional and municipal budget. The successful operation of the nuclear power plant enables it to make a strong contribution to addressing the social problems of the Murmansk Region and the municipality of Polyarnye Zori.

Kola NPP implements an ambitious charity program focused on supporting veterans, maternity and childhood, education, health care, and moral and spiritual values. Under the sponsorship of Kola NPP, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and a Spiritual Education Center have been built in Polyarnye Zori; an ice-hockey rink and the Sergey Limonov Ice Hockey Arena have been opened; Hero Pilots Square has been renovated; a welcome sign at the entrance to the town, a town stadium, a shealth resort, and a railway overpass have been overhauled.

Kola NPP makes a strong contribution to development of the development of sports in Polyarnye Zori and the region and provides full support to the Salma ski resort located 10 kilometers away from the satellite town of the nuclear power plant. Major sports and mass cultural events are held here on an annual basis.

Contacts

  • Kola Nuclear Power Plant
    Branch of Rosenergoatom JSC

  • Kola NPP, Polyarnye Zori town,
    Murmansk Region 184230