South-Ukrainian NPP

The project envisaged the creation of a new type of energy enterprise, the solution of the problem of the integrated and rational use of energy that is generated by nuclear, hydro- and pumped storage stations. The construction of the South-Ukrainian energy complex was aimed at providing the south of Ukraine with a sufficient amount of electricity using the maneuverable pumped storage capacities and water resources of the Southern Bug .

The construction of a nuclear power plant consisting of three power units with VVER-1000 reactors with a capacity of 1000 MW each, and the satellite town of the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant began in the spring of 1975. In December 1982, the first power unit was included in the energy system. In 1985 and 1989, the second and third power units of the station were put into operation. Over 10 years of operation, the nuclear power plant has generated over 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The installed capacity of the station is currently 3,000 MW.

The first power unit is equipped with a reactor plant manufactured by Izhorskiye Zavody in St. Petersburg, the other two units use VVER-1000 reactors and steam generators manufactured at the Atommash plant. It is noteworthy that a reactor was installed at the second power unit of the South Ukrainian NPP, which became the first one manufactured at the Volgodonsk Atommash plant in 1981 ^{[3] [4]} . The first and second power units are equipped with V-302 and V-338 reactor units, respectively, K-1000-60 / 1500 turbines manufactured by Kharkov Turboatom OJSC and TVV-1000-4 (1500 rpm) generators produced by St. Petersburg Electrosila Association ". The third power unit is equipped with a V-320 reactor, a TVV-1000-2 generator (3000 rpm) of the same manufacturers, and a K-1000-60 / 3000 turbine manufactured at the Leningrad Metal Plant .

Over the course of the year, South-UES NPP generates 17-18 billion kWh of electric energy, which makes up more than 10% of electricity production in Ukraine and about a quarter of its production in Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The South Ukrainian NPP covers 96% of the electricity needs of the Nikolaev , Kherson , Odessa regions of Ukraine.

At the expense of the South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant, in 1999 the Aleksandrovskaya Hydroelectric Power Station was built.

Fuel

Since 2005, fuel assemblies (FAs) of two manufacturers - TVEL and Westinghouse - have been operating in the active zone of power units No. 2 and No. 3 of the South Ukrainian NPP. ^[five]

At the end of June 2012, Energoatom decided to unload the fuel of the American company Westinghouse from reactors No. 2 and No. 3 of the South Ukrainian NPP due to “damage to the rim of the distance grid of two assemblies of TVS-W”. The Ukrainian company turned to Russia with a request to urgently deliver Russian fuel manufactured for the Zaporizhzhya NPP to the South Ukrainian NPP. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate has banned the use of Westinghouse fuel assemblies. ^[6]

In 2013, all Westinghouse fuel cassettes were completely removed from the second unit of the South Ukrainian NPP. ^[7]

In March 2015, the first 42 Westinghouse fuel cartridges were loaded into the reactor of power unit No. 3. Depressurization of two Westinghouse nuclear fuel cartridges was discovered the same year during a planned shutdown of the third unit reactor. ^[eight]

After licensing in the spring of 2016 by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of the modernized Westinghouse nuclear fuel (TVS-WR), Energoatom intends to make two purchases of fresh fuel from Westinghous for nuclear power plants. ^[9] On May 19, 2016, 80 fuel cartridges of the Russian TVEL company and 83 fortified Westinghouse fuel assemblies (TVS-WR) were placed in the active zone of the power unit No. 3 reactor. ^[ten]

In July 2018, the 3rd power unit became the first Ukrainian unit to completely switch to Westinghouse fuel ^[11] .

On the night of January 15-16, 2015, a strong fire broke out inside the through transformer of the South Ukrainian NPP ^[12] . In the fire extinguishing involved 16 pieces of equipment and 125 personnel. According to the results of the post-radiation reconnaissance, the background at the NPP industrial site and beyond did not exceed the norm.

Unit 1

March 23, 2016 at 9:40 the power unit No. 1 of the South Ukrainian NPP was disconnected from the Ukrainian power system to carry out current repairs to eliminate the malfunction of the turbine control system ^[13] . The Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine denied information about a malfunction at the South Ukrainian NPP due to the use of fuel by the American company Westinghouse ^[14] . March 23, 2016 at 23:26 power unit No. 1 of the South Ukrainian NPP was connected to the grid after the current repair ^[15] .

Unit 2

The design life of power unit No. 2 of the South Ukrainian NPP ended on December 25, 2015. However, by the resolution of the Board of the State Atomic Regulation on December 7, 2015, safe operation of power unit No. 2 of the South Ukrainian NPP was recognized as possible until December 31, 2025. On December 13, power unit No. 2 of the South Ukrainian NPP was connected to the Ukrainian power system after the completion of scheduled preventive repairs and the implementation of measures to extend its life in the super-project period ^[16] .

• On January 26, 2016 at 13:15, power unit No. 2 was unloaded from 1,030 MW to 600 MW. The reason for the unloading was the shutdown of the main circulation pump No. 1. At 11:15 on January 27, the power of the power unit was reduced to 365 MW. The power of power unit No. 2, as of mid-day on Wednesday, January 27, was reduced to 0 MW, respectively, the power unit was completely taken out of operation after two attempts to unload it within a day ^[17] . February 5, at 15:02, power unit No. 2 is connected to the power grid, after the current repair ^[18] .
• February 10, 2016 at 01:28, power unit No. 2 was disconnected from the country's power system to carry out maintenance to eliminate the increased vibration of the bearings of the turbine unit ^[19] . February 11, power unit No. 2 was connected to the power grid, after ongoing repairs ^[20] .
• On February 26, 2016 at 01:27, power unit No. 2 was disconnected from the power supply network for routine repairs on the equipment of the reactor compartment of the power unit - main circulation pump No. 1 (ГЦН-1) ^[21] . On March 5, at 07:39, power unit No. 2 was connected to the power grid after completion of the current repair ^[22] .
• March 21, 2016 at 09:47, power unit No. 2 was disconnected from the Ukrainian power system for routine repair in accordance with the allowed application to eliminate deficiencies in the generator cooling system ^[23] . On April 17, 2016 at 13:27, the power unit was connected to the grid, after ongoing repairs. ^[24]
• On May 20, 2016, during the scheduled testing of equipment at Unit 2 of the South Ukrainian NPP, emergency protection triggered as a result of erroneous personnel actions. At 10:01, the power unit was disconnected from the Ukrainian power system ^[25] . May 21 at 02:37 the power unit was connected to the grid. ^[26]

Unit 3

• February 20, 2016 at 05:45, power unit No. 3 of the South Ukrainian NPP was disconnected from the grid due to an increase in the coolant level in the steam generator upon the failure of the level regulator ^[27] . On the same day at 15:48, the power unit, after troubleshooting, is connected to the power grid ^[28] .

• Official site of NAEC "Energoatom"
• Official site of OP “South Ukrainian NPP”