Advances in the Physical Start-Up Test Program for VVER-1200 Power Units

• Published in: Physics of atomic nuclei Vol. 87; no. 8; pp. 1039 - 1046
• Main Authors: Tsyganov, S. V., Kraynov, Yu. A., Gribov, A. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.12.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physical tests; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Research facilities; data processing technique; nuclear reactor; physical start-up tests; VVER-1200
• ISSN: 1063-7788; 1562-692X
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063778824080234

Unit 1 of the Novovoronezh NPP-2 operating the first VVER-1200 reactor of the 3+ generation reached a critical state for the first time in May 2016, and the physical start-up of the power unit was carried out. The National Research Center Kurchatov Institute was the scientific supervisor of the start-up of the first-of-a-kind unit with the VVER-1200 reactor at the Novovoronezh NPP-2 and power units of the Belarusian NPP. By now, five VVER-1200 units have been commissioned. The experience gained during the preparation and conduct of physical tests at the first units was used during the start-up of the next ones. Specific features of the preparation and implementation of the program of physical tests at VVER-1200 units, which were developed and implemented by specialists of the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, are presented.