На российском атомном ледоколе «Якутия» запустили реактор РИТМ-200

At the Baltic Shipyard of the USC, the RITM-200 reactor plant on the starboard side of the nuclear icebreaker "Yakutia" of Project 22220 was launched. According to the USC press service, fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor, it was brought to a minimum controlled power level, and the start-up equipment was calibrated. The physical start-up of the reactor went smoothly.

Similar work will be carried out on the left reactor, after which specialists will begin comprehensive testing of the entire nuclear power plant of the icebreaker consisting of two RITM-200 reactors.

Physical start-up is the result of the painstaking and intense work of many specialists. They have completed a huge amount of commissioning work and carried out all the necessary tests of systems and equipment. The most important stage in the construction of the icebreaker has begun, during which the nuclear "heart" of the vessel will beat at full power, comprehensive mooring tests of the order will be carried out, after which "Yakutia" will be able to go to sea for the first time for sea trials.

Alexander Konovalov, General Director of the Baltic Shipyard

RITM-200 is a Russian water-water nuclear reactor developed at OKBM Afrikantov (part of Rosatom). Thanks to it, Project 22220 icebreakers have become dual-draft and have improved technical characteristics in terms of speed and icebreaking ability.

RITM-200 is part of the main power plant of the icebreaker, which includes two reactors with a thermal capacity of 175 MW each. It has an integrated layout, so it is twice as light, one and a half times more compact and 25 MW more powerful than the KLT-type reactor plants previously used by Russia for the icebreaker fleet.

The design of the RITM-200 allows them to operate even when the nuclear-powered ship is rolling with an oscillation amplitude of 45 degrees and a pitching amplitude of 15 degrees. The service life of such a reactor is 40 years.