BN-600 operation experience

The reactor plant BN-600 has been operating since 1980 as Belojarsk-3 power plant. The power unit comprises the fast nuclear reactor BN-600 of 1470 MW(th) power, three steam generators PGN-220M and three steam turbine plants K-200-130-3 (Fig.2.24., Table 

The primary, secondary and tertiary (steam-water) circuits each have three loops. Each secondary circuit loop includes two intermediate heat exchangers (enclosed in the reactor vessel), steam generator, sodium expansion tank, main circulating pump and pipes. The once-through steam generator consists of eight sections, each comprising three modules evaporator, superheater and reheater. Every section can be isolated (if necessary) by valves. 

Each tertiary loop includes the modular steam generator, the turbine plant with related auxiliary equipment, 0.6 MPa deaerator, three feedwater pumps and one emergency feedwater pump. The circuit flow scheme and equipment are similar to those used in fossil-fuelled power plants. The reactor plant is capable of operating with two loops at a power up to 70% of the rated level. 

The reactor uses an integral layout of the primary circuit components the reactor core, intermediate heat exchangers and reactor coolant pumps are contained in the common reactor 

3 - core, 4 - blanket zone, 5 - spent assemblies storage, 6- in-vessel neutron shield, 7- heat exchanger, 

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