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The history of NIKIET, which begins with the first steps of nuclear energy in the USSR, is marked with many successes. The first domestic production reactors, necessary for nuclear weapons manufacture, were developed in the design bureau headed by N.A. Dollezhal.
In 1952, a research institute was set up around Dollezhal's bureau. It was this institute that developed the first reactor system for the first Soviet nuclear submarine, a water-graphite pressure-tube reactor for the world's first nuclear power plant in Obninsk, the first dual-purpose power reactor built at Sibirskaya NPP, and the first pressure-tube reactor with nuclear steam superheating for Beloyarsk NPP.
Today, the Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET) is one of Russia's largest centers for nuclear engineering and technology, with sites in Moscow and in the Urals.
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The first Soviet nuclear submarine |
In 1954, the Institute designed a nuclear power installation for the first Soviet nuclear submarine.
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The successful operating record of the first pressure-tube reactors paved the way for development of a large water-graphite pressure-tube reactor - the RBMK. At present, 11 power units with RBMK reactors, 11 GWe in total capacity, are in operation on the territory of Russia.
The world's first NPP in Obninsk |
Beloyarsk NPP |
Encouraged by the successful operating experience of the early pressure-tube reactors, NIKIET created a large water-cooled graphite-moderated pressure-tube reactor - RBMK. The first two 1000 MWe RBMKs came into service at the Leningrad NPP in 1973 and 1975. Unit capacity was raised to 1500 MWe with the next generation of RBMKs. Two such reactors have been in operation at Ignalina (Lithuania) since 1983 and 1987.
Ignalina NPP (Lithuania) |
At present, 11 RBMK units with the total capacity of 11,000 MWe are operating in Russia.
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The research and development programmes of the Institute embrace:
- fast reactor with a heavy metal coolant, designed to the principles of natural safety (BREST);
- simplified vessel-type boiling water reactor with natural coolant circulation (VK-300);
- advanced pressure tube reactor with inherent safety features (MKER);
- marine nuclear power systems;
- space nuclear power and propulsion systems;
- mobile self-contained nuclear plants for electricity and heat supply to remote and difficult-of-access regions;
- research reactors;
- computerised integrated systems for control of nuclear power installations;
- blankets and energy conversion systems for fusion reactors.
SM research reactor |
MIR research reactor |
Twenty-seven research reactors were built in Russia and abroad to NIKIET's designs or with the Institute's participation. Some of them are unique, with nothing similar to be found elsewhere in the world.
The Institute has at its disposal solid experimental capabilities which include thermal rigs, facilities for testing control and protection systems, and other installations.
NIKIET served as a basis for establishment of several Minatom centers - on strength, reliability and lifetime of nuclear equipment; on computer codes for NPPs and reactor systems; on nondestructive testing and in-service inspection of NPP components and pipelines. The Institute is in the lead of nuclear and radiation safety activities associated with decommissioning of nuclear submarines and other naval ships, as well as in the environmental rehabilitation of naval facilities presenting radiation hazards.
Health care is another area to have benefited from conversion spin-offs. Worthy of mention are unrivaled yet spectrofluorimeters for early cancer detection. Equipment for retention and recycling of expensive xenon in future xenon-based anesthetic apparatus is undergoing tests.
The Institute has extensive international contacts. It has been involved in programmes of the European Commission (TACIS и PHARE) and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, as well as in bilateral projects for safety analysis and improvement of RBMK plants.
As a participant of the international fusion reactor project (ITER), the Institute is performing studies on the blanket, first wall materials, and energy conversion systems.
In team with foreign companies, NIKIET is developing a nuclear power and propulsion system for space missions. The Institute is in charge of development and installation of supporting frames for end cap hadron calorimeters of the CMS detector in the Large Hadron Collider under construction at CERN (Switzerland). NIKIET is involved in many ISTC projects.
Studies carried out by this Institute together with other Russian organisations and enterprises laid a scientific and technological groundwork for the Initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced at the UN Millennium Summit on September 6, 2000. The Initiative addresses such global challenges as energy supply for sustainable human development, eradication of the problems posed by proliferation of nuclear weapons, and improvement of environment on our planet.
Owing to its impressive intellectual and technical potential, NIKIET is well equipped to tackle the most challenging scientific and engineering tasks.
Publications and inventions |
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