Rostov NPP

Rostov NPP

Largest Power Company in southern Russia

13,5 km

from the town of Volgodonsk in the

Rostov Region

Rostov NPP ensures security of energy supply for Southern Russia. Electric power generated by it is delivered to the consumers using seven LEP-500 and four LEP- 220 transmission lines. Rostov NPP generates over 75% of electric power in the Rostov Region.

The share of nuclear power plant in the power generation by the Southern Integrated Power System comprised of the power systems of the entities in the Southern and North Caucasian Federal districts is about 30%. Every third lamp in Southern Russia is powered by Rostov NPP. It represents a series of the unified projects of NPPs fitted with the VVER-1000 reactors.

  • 32,806.4mln kWh

    of electric power generated by the plant in 2020

  • 4 072MW

    plant installed capacity

Start-up of power units

  • 01

    VVER-1000

    1,042 MW

    2001

  • 02

    VVER-1,000

    1,000 MW

    2010

  • 03

    VVER-1000

    1,000 MW

    2015

  • 04

    VVER-1000

    1,030 MW

    2018

reactor type

installed capacity

operational

Nuclear power plant configuration

The VVER-type reactors are the heart of Rostov NPP

VVER reactor unit

The full-scale construction of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant began in October 1979. In 1990, the construction of the NPP was suspended, and the plant was mothballed. Unit 1 was ready by 95%; Unit 2, by 30%. For Unit 3, a foundation was laidб for Unit 4, a pit was excavated.

In 2000, the Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority of Russia (Gosatomnadzor) issued a license for continued construction of Unit 1at Rostov NPP with the VVER-1000 reactor. In 2001, a license for operation of the power unit was granted. On March 30, 2001, the turbine generator in Unit 1 was connected to the Unified Energy System of Russia.

VVER is a vessel-type pressurized water reactor. To date, such reactor leads in the world’s practice by high safety and reliability, large unit capacity and economic efficiency.

VVER reactor unit

This reactor is cooled and moderated by water containing boric acid of concentration varied during operation. A slightly enriched uranium dioxide is used as a fuel in the reactor core.

The process flow chart of Rostov units is comprised of two circuits.

The primary circuit consists of a reactor, reactor coolant pumps (RCP), steam generators (SG), and a pressurizer. It is intended to remove heat from the reactor to secondary water. The primary coolant is highpurity water pressurized by 167 atm. containing a dissolved boric acid being an intensive neutron absorber. Primary circuilation pumps circulate water through the reactor core to be heated up to 320 degrees due to heat generated as a result of the nuclear reaction.

The primary water transfers heat to the secondary water through metal walls of the steam generator heat-exchange tubes in the steam generator and returns to the reactor at a temperature of 290 degrees. Radioactive elements contained in the primary water cannot penetrate the secondary circuit which is non-radioactive. It consists of a steam-generating plant of the steam generators, the main steam lines, the turbine plant with a regeneration system, the feed water plant, and several auxiliary systems.

ВВЭР

The secondary circuit is designed to generate steam. Steam is supplied to the steam turbine. In its turn, the turbine rotates a magnet rotor. Electric current is induced by the electromagnetic induction.

Rotation of the magnet rotor induces electric current in the winding of the surrounding stator. All that remains is to do is to deenergize the winding and transmit electric power to external consumers. The spent steam is cooled by condensers and is turned into water to be pumped back to steam generators.

Two-circuit NPPs with water coolant prevail worldwide. A contact between the primary and secondary circuit is limited to heat transfer, and primary water under no circumstances can penetrate the secondary circuit. This is vitally important for the radiation safety of NPPs.

  • 167atm

    water pressure
    in the first circuit

  • 290-320°С

    water temperature
    in the reactor

  • 900tonnes

    total weight of the charged reactor assembly

  • 20cm

    reactor pressure vessel thickness

Process flow chart of Rostov NPP

VVER is a vessel-type pressurized water reactor.

This reactor is cooled and moderated by water containing boric acid of concentration varied during operation. A slightly enriched uranium dioxide is used as a fuel in the reactor core

Nuclear power plant safety systems

The basic principle of safe plant operation is to prevent an uncontrolled radioactive release.

The power units of Rostov NPP feature high safety indicators. The principle of selfprotection of the reactor unit, defense-in-depth safety barriers, and engineering and organizational measures to protect these barriers.

Defense-in-depth concept

To compensate for potential human errors or mechanical failures, defensein-depth is applied. This principle is based on several levels of protection with a sequence of barriers on the way of radioactive release to the atmosphere. It includes protection of the barriers by preventing damage to the plant and barriers.

The plant safety systems were constructed based on the following:

  • three-train redundancy with every safety train capable of complete coping with an accident;
  • functional independence with every control train independent of others;
  • territorial independence with equipment and other elements of the safety systems never crossing and maximally far from each other;
  • diverse operating principles and maximum use of passive systems acting irrespective of a power source.

Safety barriers

  • 1

    The first barrier is a fuel matrix (i.e. a pellet).

  • 2

    The second barrier is fuel cladding.

  • 3

    The third barrier is comprised of fuel channels, pipelines, and the equipment of the repeated forced circulation circuit.

  • 4

    The forth barrier consists of reinforced concrete walls of the buildings housing the equipment of the repeated forced circulation circuit.

Self-protection principle

The core of VVER reactors is selfprotected or self-regulated. The reactor power increase imminently leads to the core temperature ramp. To this end, the reactor uses a negative reactivity feedback to suppress the nuclear reaction. To quickly and efficiently stop the chain reaction, neutrons involved in this process are to be absorbed. For this purpose, the boron carbide absorber is used. Boron carbide rods are inserted to the reactor core to reduce the neutron flux or shut down the reactor.

To ensure complete immersion of rods to the core, electromagnets are used to drive them. Such principle guarantees that rods will drop even in case of power loss. Electromagnets being deenergized will stop holding absorbers causing them to drop under gravity.

Another way to stop the chain fission reaction is to strengthen boric acid added to the coolant. When necessary, it is used by multiple emergency systems.

Containment

Containment completely isolates the reactor from the exterior. It is an extra strong reinforced concrete structure accommodating the reactor, primary cooling equipment and safety systems. The containment is capable of not only holding fission products inside in case of the severest accident but also of withstanding all possible external impacts.

Environmental safety

ecology

Rostov NPP leads in the environmental activity of the southern region and operates plant equipment at a high level to protect natural system

  • 23

    permanent radiation
    monitoring stations

The main objective of the environmental policy of Rostov NPP is to maintain splant safety so that the plant impact upon the environment, personnel, and population protects natural systems and human health in the near and long term.

  • 23

    permanent radiation
    monitoring stations

Over 200 million Roubles are annually allocated for measures to ensure environmental safety. At the Rostov NPP, there is an environmental management system for all production processes. Environment is continuously monitored at the site both by the in-house departments and independent special companies.

To monitor radiation outside the plant, 23 permanent radiation monitoring stations are located within 30 km from the site. They measure parameters of atmospheric air, atmospheric precipitation, soil and vegetation. At the plant, the Department for Environment Survey monitors radiation of surface watercourses and potable water in populated localities of the surveyed area. Additionally, there are 22 automated radiation situation monitoring systems (ARSMS) in the surveyed area. The ARSMS information is automatically conveyed to the Rosenergoatom’s Emergency Response Center and then to the ROSATOM industry-wide ARSMS to be used for evaluation of the actual radiation situation around the plant.

Social responsibility

Rostov NPP is a company with the high social responsibility

Social policy is a separate plant activities applied to the locality outside the plant.

The plant operates successfully making it possible to resolve social issues both in the Rostov region and town of Volgodonsk.

Every year, the plant applies an extensive charity program proving support for child- and health-care facilities, veterans organizations, cultural establishments, sports facilities, and educational institutions.

When the Rostov NPP was constructing new units, it financially supported construction of a range of social protection facilities. These were tens of kilometers of gaselectrical networks, water mains, highwayslighting, sportsgrounds, health care facilities, children’s playgrounds, etc.

In 2015, a cooperative agreement was made with the government of the Rostov region to create conditions favorable for development of communications established with ROSATOM companies in the Rostov region, for sustainable development of Volgodonsk, and for improving life standards of citizens. Funds of the agreement are used to construct the Center for Martial Arts, buy municipal vehicles, and decorate educational institutions in the town.

During six years, over 940 million rubles were spent for socially important projects and infrastructure development. For Volgodonsk, buses, trolley-buses, ambulance cars, and special road machinery were procured. In addition, repaired were highways, decorated were social welfare institutions, and fitted were with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment municipal hospitals.

Contacts

  • Rostov Nuclear Power Plant Branch of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC

  • Volgodonsk-28, Rostov Region, 347368, Russian Federation