RBMK-1000 plants still operating

There have been so many comments, and e-mails about the Soviet-designed RBMK-1000 channel type, graphite-moderated BWR plants inquiring as to which were still operating that rather than answer them all individually, I'll try to cover this with a post.

Firstly, let's look at the Chernobyl site. Unit 4 was the unit that experienced the accident; the other three plants at the site were eventually shut down, but over a number of years. The original plans for this site called for six reactors to be in service by 1990, and in fact both No. 5 and No. 6 were under construction at the time of the accident but were never finished (although No. 5 nearly was at the time of the accident.) So none are left there.

The two units that ended up in Lithuania are shut down permanently. Our information here shows that these were actually RBMK-1500 plants, although other sources indicate that the net output of these plants was 1185 MWe, not the 1500 MWe of a full RBMK-1500 plant. It may be that the plants had smaller turbines than originally planned for the larger core size of the RBMK-1500 (which was 4800 MWt instead of the 3200 MWt of the RBMK-1000.) Whatever the case, these are shut down. The site, by the way, was originally planned to have four RBMK-1500 units in total operating by 1990.

In the Russian Federation we find all the operable RBMK type reactors, and they are all RBMK-1000 types. None of the proposed RBMK-1500 or RBMK-2400 units were begun. None of the few predecessor channel-type reactors remains in service either.

Kursk Power Station has four RBMK-1000 plants in operation. A fifth under construction was suspended.

Leningrad Power Station has four RBMK-1000 plants in operation.

Smolensk Power Station has three RBMK-1000 plants in operation. A fourth under construction was suspended.

Eleven RBMK-1000 plants are in operation as of now. Four RBMK-1000 and two RBMK-1500 plants have been shut down permanently. Four RBMK-1000 plants that were under construction were suspended and cancelled. Two RBMK-1500 units that were planned appear never to have been started. No RBMK-2400 plant was ever built or ordered.

Sources: WNA Database, and "Soviet Nuclear Power Plants" / David Katsman / Delphic Associates 1986 - from APRA technical library.

4:10 PM Eastern Monday 4/18
ATOMIC POWER REVIEW