Floating nuclear power stations are vessels projected by the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency that present self-contained, low-capacity, floating nuclear power plants, each powered by two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion reactorsS
The stations are to be mass-built at ship-building facilities and then towed to the destination point in coastal waters near a city, a town or an industrial enterprise. Each vessel would then provide up to 70 MWWattof electrical or 300 MW of heat energy thatare enough for a city with population of 200,000 people. It could also be modified as a desalination plant producing 240,000 cubic meters of fresh water a day
The stations are to be mass-built at ship-building facilities and then towed to the destination point in coastal waters near a city, a town or an industrial enterprise. Each vessel would then provide up to 70 MWWattof electrical or 300 MW of heat energy thatare enough for a city with population of 200,000 people. It could also be modified as a desalination plant producing 240,000 cubic meters of fresh water a day
Name:Academician Lomonosov
Namesake:Mikhail Lomonosov
Operator:Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency
Port of Registry:Russia
Builder:Baltic Shipyard
Cost:US$336 million (projected)
Laid down:15 April 15 2007
Launched:Planned for 2010
Shipyard:Sevmash
Displacement:21,500 tonnes
Length:144 meters
Beam:30 meters
Powerplant :2 modified KLT-40S Nuclear Reactors (Ice breaker type), 70 MW electric or 300 MW heat power
Planned Cost :$336 million
Displacement:21,500 tonnes
Length:144 meters
Beam:30 meters
Powerplant :2 modified KLT-40S Nuclear Reactors (Ice breaker type), 70 MW electric or 300 MW heat power
Planned Cost :$336 million
Fueling
The plant needs to be refueled every three years while saving up to 200,000 metric tons of coal and 100,000 tons of fuel oil a year. The reactors are supposed to have a lifespan of 40 years. Every 12 years the whole plant will be towed home and overhauled at the wharf where it was constructed. The disposal of the nuclear waste will be organized by the manufacturer and supported by the infrastructure of the Russian nuclear industry. Thus, virtually no radiation traces are expected at the place where the power station produced its energy.
Safety
Environmental groups and nuclear experts are concerned that floating plants will be more vulnerable to accidents and terrorism than land-based stations. They point to a history of naval and nuclear accidents in Russia and the former Soviet Union, including the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
Russia does have 50 years of experience operating a fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers that are also used for scientific and Arctic tourism expeditions. The Russians have commented that a nuclear reactor that sinks, such as the similar reactor involved in the Kursk explosion, can be raised and probably put back into operation.At this time it is not known what, if any, containment structure or associated missile shield will be built on the ship. The manufacturers believe that an airliner striking the ship would not destroy the reactor. According to MosNews, a Russian news outlet, there is no way an airliner striking the ship would destroy the reactor.
Russia does have 50 years of experience operating a fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers that are also used for scientific and Arctic tourism expeditions. The Russians have commented that a nuclear reactor that sinks, such as the similar reactor involved in the Kursk explosion, can be raised and probably put back into operation.At this time it is not known what, if any, containment structure or associated missile shield will be built on the ship. The manufacturers believe that an airliner striking the ship would not destroy the reactor. According to MosNews, a Russian news outlet, there is no way an airliner striking the ship would destroy the reactor.
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