Nuclear steam superheating- the present status and prospects

The operating experience of the Beloyarsk NPP (BNPP) is reported, and prospects for nuclear steam superheating are shortly discussed taking as an example the RBMKP-2400 reactor (calculated steam parameters: 450 deg C and 65 kg/cm2). Characteristic features of the LWGR type reactors are surveyed. The reactors are the most promising to obtain superheated steam of high quality (510-540 deg C, 90 kg/cm2). Lifetime of the both BNPP reactors (100 MWe and 200 MWe respectively) has totalled 21 reactor-years at efficiency approximately 37-38%, capacity factor approximately 62-77% and availability factor approximately 75-91%. The BNPP reactors have proved the feasibility of commercial nuclear steam superheating, adequate reliability, safety and economic attractiveness. It is noted that the reactors with nuclear steam superheating can be economically run at off-peak loads, serve for industrial or district heating purposes and exert far less thermal impact on the environment