Small atomic reactors (SMR) work all over the world, with over 80 designs in the plan phase. However, only Russia went from words to deeds, that is, from projects to "iron".
One installation has been working for 4 years now – the “Lomonosov Academic” where atomic fuel has late been replaced. I erstwhile described the state of this most advanced branch of the Russian complex for the Readers of the Polish thought (Jęczniak: Russian SMR-y | Przemysł Polska (myślpolska.info). This was a year ago, so let's look at what is happening in the planet leader of this technology. There are more than 10 projects in Rosatom at various stages of development. Different power – from respective 100 kilowatts to 300 megawatts. They disagree in fuel types, heat carriers, forced or their own circulation. However, here it is essential to reserve: this technologically advanced atomic power branch is only a margin of the tycoon's activity, simply complementing its activities. And rather modest if you measurement the power of the reactors.
Rosatom builds primarily large (typically 1200 MW) reactors, and it is an awesome number: 36, of which 33 abroad and 3 in the country. The Russians do not treat SMRs as a panacea, but as a method and economical solution for isolated, island and hard-to-access energy systems. There, the transport of hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel (coal, oil, gas) carries immense costs. And specified areas in Russia are over 70%, and any of them are very rich in land treasures – gas, oil, coal or even gold.
Rosatom is simply a planet leader in the export of atomic power plants, but besides in SMRs his plans are impressive: by 2028 (in 5 years) Rosatom intends to launch a second already floating power plant with 2 atomic blocks. That year he wants to place the first land-based SMR. A year later – export 2 floating blocks. In 2030 it is scheduled to launch a super-small SMR. For today, the Russian portfolio has 30 home and 20 abroad orders for low power energy. However, it is worth noting that from the first working reactor to the next 1 it is almost 10 years...
But before we decision on to circumstantial plans, a small bit about history. Well, russian nuclear, and now Russian, is not present the leader in tiny atomic reactors. Even in the times of the USSR, half a century ago (1974-76), the world's first tiny power plant for an isolated Arctic region was built – in Bilibino, Chukotka. It consisted of 4 blocks of 12 megawatts of power each. It's microscopic powers, compared to today's large-scale energy (1200-1500 MW). But it was an effective solution to the dilemma: whether to deliver 200 000 tons of energy natural materials or only 40 tons of atomic fuel (including packaging). That's 5,000 times little fuel all year in a hell of a rough Arctic environment. It is worth noting (to have an thought of the scale of the challenge and the time needed to make specified structures) that the task started more than 10 years earlier – in 1963.
"Lomonosov Academic", the first floating atomic power plant is now replacing Bilibino, which is already exhausting its resurs, although 3 blocks of this Arctic SMR are inactive working. Thanks to fresh powers based on water, metallic ore extraction (but besides gold) can make in the Baim mining region of western Czukota. The basis and background from which the Russian tiny atomic energy grows is sea transport, primarily russian ships and now Russian fleet, in the first place – submarines. And although not only this superpower had the atomic drive of its fleet, but only Russia faces the large challenge of defeating the frost and ice, the eternal freeze, shackling 2/3 of the country and the improvement of the Arctic regions of Russia. Without maintaining population, labour and natural materials, these rich areas would have long been taken distant from Russia. The consequence of this challenge is an impressive, unique “Arctic atomic fleet” of icebreakers (Jęczniak: Arctic atomic fleet of | Think Poland (myślpolska.info)on which atomic reactors have been operating under highly hard conditions for decades. They are the basis of the SMR blocks, whether placed on ships or on land. The experience gained (400 worked reactor-years) is fruitful in energy. It does not have specified immense operational requirements, but it improves energy and economical parameters. Just like the first water-based SMR “Łomonosov” – it was created on the basis of a reactor, working on an icebreaker, and the next one, although with much better parameters.
About them in the next issue of Polish Thought.
Andrzej Szczęsniak
photo of wikipedia
Poland, No. 5-6 (28.01-4.02.2024)
