en.Wedoany.com Reported - During a planned major overhaul, the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant in the Saratov Region completed the replacement of the last two of four steam generators at Unit 3—PG-1 and PG-3. Each steam generator measures approximately 15 meters by 4 meters and weighs over 300 tons. Previously, PG-2 and PG-4 were replaced between 2019 and 2020.
Preparation for this replacement work spanned several years, including planning the transportation route from the manufacturing plant along the Volga River to the power station, as well as personnel training. Thanks to accumulated experience from previous operations and thorough preparation by plant staff, the work was completed in just 127 days, nearly 40 days ahead of the original 166-day schedule.
The new steam generators were manufactured by the Atommash plant in Volgodonsk, Rostov Region, in accordance with modern safety and efficiency requirements. One key improvement is the optimized feedwater distribution system, which significantly reduces sediment buildup on heat exchange tube walls. Alexey Sirotin, Chief Engineer of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, stated that this solution, along with other technical measures, is designed to ensure trouble-free operation of the unit within its design service life and even beyond, with the new steam generators offering a higher safety margin.
The original steam generators, which had been in operation since 1988, have been replaced by next-generation modern equipment. The new equipment will operate until the end of the unit's service life, and the experience gained during the replacement process can be applied to nuclear power plants in Russia and other countries.
The Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, part of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, operates four upgraded VVER-1000 units, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, generating a quarter of the total electricity output of the Volga Federal District. The Atommash plant is Russia's only facility producing steam generators for Russian-designed nuclear power plants under construction both domestically and abroad, and it has already implemented digital solutions to shorten delivery cycles for large equipment.
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