At the production site of the "Machine-Building Plant," which belongs to the fuel division of the Rosatom State Corporation, tests of the rods of the compensating groups for the lead heavy-duty nuclear icebreaker "Russia" of Project 10510 have been successfully completed. This is a key component that ensures the operation of the control and protection system of RITM-400 reactors.
Each rod of the compensating group plays an important role in reactor control: from power maneuvering to compensating for changes in reactivity caused by various factors, such as temperature effects and fuel burnup. These rods are combined into seven independent groups with individual autonomous drives, ensuring the reliability and long-term operation of the system even if one of the groups fails.
The lead nuclear icebreaker "Russia" of Project 10510, equipped with two RITM-400 reactor plants, significantly exceeds the power of the RITM-200 reactors installed on the latest universal nuclear icebreakers. This icebreaker will operate on shafts with a capacity of 120 MW and have an icebreaking capability of over four meters.
The construction of the lead nuclear icebreaker "Russia" began in 2020, and it is scheduled to be commissioned by 2027.
The manufactured rods will be sent to "OKBM Afrikantov" for installation in the compensating groups of the internal unit. This is an important step in creating a nuclear icebreaker capable of overcoming ice four meters thick and supporting year-round navigation of large-capacity vessels along the Northern Sea Route.