OREANDA-NEWS. Specialists of the chief mechanical assembly organisation of the Holding, OJSC MSU-90, are preparing for the main phase of restoration of life characteristics of reactor unit at power unit 1, which since May 2012 has remained in the long-term shut down due to deformation of graphite stack.

On January 22 Rostekhnadzor changed the conditions of the license for operation of power unit 1 of LNPP, permitting to commence restoration of operational life of reactor RBMK-1000 (a light-water-cooled graphite-moderated reactor).

As part of the works to restore life characteristics of the first power unit of Leningrad NPP employees of OJSC MSU-90 will manufacture and install equipment and materials for operations at power unit 1, will prepare sites for work and temporary storage of dismantled units and elements of the reactor, as well as ensure that support systems and central hall are ready for work.

Technical specification for the restoration of extension route joints requires specialists of the Holding to replace up to 350 process channels. Results of this restoration work are expected in March 2013, and the subsequent decision to either start up or completely shut down the power unit 1 of LNPP should be made by November this year.

Currently installation staff of OJSC MSU-90 have commenced the repairs of heat-transfer equipment of the first power unit.

Restoration of life characteristics of the first power unit are determinative for the future of operation of the oldest Russian power units with LWGR-type reactors. According to Oleg Chernikov, Deputy Director General of Concern Rosenergoatom for Production and Operation of NPP: “From the moment we have discovered the first signs of decoupling of extension joints of process channel routes, we have promptly created a new measurement design for reactor space – a fundamentally different design capable of correctly assessing its condition and helping make the correct decisions. “We have formulated the main requirements to be included in technical specification for the development of specialised devices that restore the engagement quality between extension joints of routes. The result was: newly manufactured devices capable of solving this task. Now the next task for our specialises will be restoring the service life of graphite stack of the reactor”.

Leningrad NPP is a subsidiary of OJSC Concern Rosenergoatom. The power plant is located in the town of Sosnovy Bor on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 80 kilometres west of St. Petersburg. LNPP is the first power plant in Russia to operate RBMK-1000 reactors (light-water-cooled graphite-moderated reactors, LWGR). This power plant consists of four power units with an electrical power capacity of 1,000 MW each. The oldest Russian LWGR unit – LNPP power unit 1 – is currently being repaired.

Holding TITAN-2 is the largest group of companies in the North-West Region, working in the construction of the most significant facilities for the nuclear power plants and industry.

Its business units provide a full cycle of construction – from design of project documentation to delivery and commissioning. The holding is comprised of 15 organisations and employs over 4,000 specialists, with 40 years of work experience in construction of unique and especially complex facilities.

The managing company and the core engineering business unit of the holding is JSC CONCERN TITAN-2.