Possibility of applying sliding steam pressure technology in maneuvering nuclear power plants to reduce nuclear fuel overconsumption on atomic icebreakers

This work proposes a possible method to reduce nuclear fuel overconsumption during maneuvering by utilizing sliding steam pressure technology. It is noted that since the beginning of atomic icebreaker operations in the Arctic, there has been significant overconsumption of nuclear fuel during maneuvering of nuclear power plants, and finding solutions to reduce this is a pressing goal. A proposal is made for a temporary transition to sliding steam pressure in the main steam pipeline at the initiative of the navigator, who maneuvers the icebreaker and can control the power of the electric propulsion system. Currently, the navigator cannot independently increase the reactor power even if required for safe navigation. It is noted that all atomic icebreaker projects have limitations on the power of the electric propulsion system set by the central control post operator of the nuclear steam generating system, and the navigator cannot independently increase reactor power for emergency maneuvers. Attention is drawn to the fact that if the navigator still sets the power of the electric propulsion system above the specified power limit, the load from the main turbogenerators is automatically removed and the previous power limit is restored. A modification is proposed where the navigator, without requesting a new increase in reactor power from the central control post, can independently increase reactor power during emergency maneuvers. This allows significantly reducing the limitation on the power of the electric propulsion system and the corresponding reactor power when performing work in the Arctic on a specific route section without compromising navigation safety. It is noted that this solution provides nuclear fuel savings and extends the active zone campaign. Evaluations performed in the research show significant nuclear fuel savings when using sliding steam pressure technology to overcome short-term unlikely obstacles arising in complex ice conditions in the Arctic.

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