OREANDA-NEWS. The machine engineering works ZiO-Podolsk (part of Atomenergomash system) has won the tender for manufacturing of the reactor and other vessel-type equipment of RITM-200 installation intended for the multi-purpose nuclear ice-breaker of the new generation. The contract costs RUB 1.3 Billion.

The nuclear-propelled ship’s detailed design was produced by CDB Aisberg; the integral reactor’s design was developed by OKBM Afrikantov (part of the division Atomenergomash). Ordered by OKBM Afrikantov, the vessel-type equipment of the reactor installation should be made by ZiO-Podolsk and delivered to the Baltijskiy Zavod-sudostroyenie (shipbuilding) in December 2015. OKBM Afrikantov will assemble the reactor.

“Owing to the cooperation of our enterprises we start manufacturing the complete set of the reactor installation for the nuclear icebreaker, using most advanced technologies. The reactor will be made by ZiO-Podolsk as based on OKBM Afrikantov’s development. ZiO-Podolsk is one of the largest sites in Russia, which produces critical vessel-type equipment and has a certificate granted by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Blanks for the reactor pressure vessel will be supplied by Energomashspetsstal; in 2012 we finished retrofitting this enterprise, and today it is a vendor of the world-class products,” Andrey Nikipelov, Director General of Atomenergomash said.

“The rivaling over the contract was not easy, I would even say, tough; however, we managed to offer not only the competitive price but also to prove that we possess vast and many-year experience in manufacturing equipment of nuclear power installations, including ship-based ones. Our engineering, scientific and human potential allows making cutting-edge and high-complexity power generation equipment,” Igor Kotov, Director General of the group of companies ZiO-Podolsk and ZIOMAR noted.

“The integral layout of the reactor, reduced power density of the core and other design solutions substantially increase its safety, reliability and cost effectiveness. In addition, the reactor installation has a large upgrading potential; it determines prospects of ship-based power generation for decades to come, Dmitry Zverev, Designer General of OKBM Afrikantov, said.

RITM-200 is a two-reactor installation that has thermal power capacity of 175 MW at each reactor; this exceeds power capacity of KLT reactors in use at existing nuclear icebreakers (140-150 MW). At this, it is lighter and smaller by about two times, occupies less space of the ship and more efficient in terms of operation and cost.