ANALYSIS OF NEW TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE RITM-200 REACTOR PLANT IN THE PROJECT 22220 OF UNIVERSAL NUCLEAR ICEBREAKERS

Abstract

The project 22220 of a new two-stage universal nuclear icebreaker involves the construction of 5 similar icebreakers to work in the Arctic. At the same time, two icebreakers of this project are already in operation. RITM-200 reactor installations are installed on icebreakers. The main feature of these reactor installations (RI) is the monoblock layout of the main equipment. This type of layout should gradually replace existing since 1975 and a positively proven block layout of the reactor installation. To date, the development of new reactor installations is small and it is too early to talk about the practical results of their operation, but it is possible to discuss new technical solutions in the project. At the same time, there is a long experience in the operation of previous projects of nuclear icebreakers (10520, 10521, 10580) with a total operating time of about 400 reactor years. The received comprehensive information on the creation and operation of these facilities is a solid basis for comparing the technical solutions used on new universal nuclear icebreakers, including on the reactor installations. A methodology for comparing already known technical solutions for existing installations with new ones proposed by the designer is proposed in the paper. In this situation, the author acts as an independent expert with an assessment of the relative positivity of new technical solutions. At the same time, the assessment is carried out according to 6 comparison criteria developed on the basis of the analysis of the accompanying technical documentation on reactor installation developed by the Afrikantov OKBM. Six most important new integrated technical solutions for the modernization of the reactor installation for universal nuclear icebreakers are considered. Such an analysis is also important because an optimized power unit for low-power floating nuclear power plants is being developed on the basis of the design experience gained. As an energy source, two RHYTHM-200M steering wheels are used here. In addition, the RITM-400 reactor plant with a thermal capacity of 315 MW for the leader icebreaker with a capacity of 120 MW is conceptually similar to the RITM-200 and the differences are mainly due to increased thermal power and an increased number of energy loops while maintaining dimensions. The analysis has showed that the complexes of technical solutions mainly have a high relative positivity and take into account the latest scientific achievements and technology development.