Nuclear technology uses the energy released by splitting the atoms of certain elements. During the 1940s the concept was introduced and focused on building bombs as it was the time of the Second World War. In the 1950s, attention turned to the peaceful use of nuclear fission, controlling it for power generation. According to the “World Nuclear Association”, nuclear energy now provides about 11% of the world's electricity from about 450 power reactors. [1]
There are many other applications of this technology. For example, nuclear medicine uses radiation to provide diagnostic information about the functioning of a person's specific organs, or to treat them. Diagnostic procedures using radioisotopes are now routine.Sterilization of medical equipment is also an important use of radioisotopes. Nuclear technology is showing its magic in agriculture too. Some of the most innovative ways being used to improve agricultural practices involve nuclear technology. Nuclear applications in agriculture rely on the use of isotopes and radiation techniques to combat pests and diseases, increase crop production, protect land and water resources, ensure food safety and authenticity, and increase livestock production.[2]
Background of Obninsk
After the disaster of World War 2, the world was looking for a new sustainable source of energy. And also people needed to believe that nuclear energy can bring something good towards humanity, the USSR government decided to build a nuclear power plant with a soul purpose of serving as a provider of electricity and creating research facilities. That is how the first nuclear power plant in the world started its journey in Obninsk. It was located at a little more than 100 miles northwest of Moscow it was very convenient for research and experimental works because the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering was located nearby. It was commissioned on June 27, 1954. It went on and operated for almost five decades without any significant mishaps.
In the Soviet Union’s time, nuclear energy was something more than just a source of energy; it was a sign of the Soviet Union’s success.[3] Utilization of nuclear fuels for energy production started to burgeon in early 1954 when Russia was a part of the Soviet Union. Since then, the interest in nuclear energy continued to rise and the share of nuclear energy to the total energy production continued to grow accordingly. In post-revolution (1917-1922) and Stalin’s periods (1922-1953), the fundamental base of Russia’s industrial sector was created, while in the so called Khrushchev era (1953-1964), successes in nuclear power and space technologies were achieved [4].
With the birth of Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant, the United Soviet Socialistic Republic (USSR) became the first country in the world to adapt the energy of atom to produce electricity for civil use [5].
It was closed on April 29, 2002. An incredible fact about the Obninsk power plant is it was the world’s very first nuclear power plant feed into an existing commercial grid [6]. It was very astonishing how they planned this power plant without considering military purposes even being in the heat of the cold war.This small nuclear plant has become a symbol of the peaceful and effective use of atomic energy, and the date of its start-up has been marked as the birth of nuclear power.
Commercial Emphasis
The plant had a reactor capacity of 5 mWt only. This was not able to solve soviet power crisis, not that it was meant to. And it was certainly not meant to give the Soviet Union a leg up in the cold war [7]. The authority rather had intentions to build the plant as an experiment for commercial electricity. The big question was “could a reactor be used to supply the commercial grid with energy?” Obninsk proved that it could, and did so successfully. I V Kurchatov,a soviet nuclear physicist who was widely known as the director of the soviet atomic bomb project, guided the development of the design proposal. It was planned to construct a ‘trinity’ – a nuclear power plant with three reactors producing steam for one turbine, at V Laboratory. It was proposed first to construct the AM reactor (Atom Mirny – peaceful atom). The primary task was to choose the general concept and the main characteristics of the plant, which took six months of intensive work. The concept of a channel-type reactor with a graphite moderator and reflector was chosen. The reactor’s thermal power was 30MWt and the electric power of the turbine generator equal to 5MWe. [8]
One of many achievements of this design was to give birth to the modern powerful RBMK reactors.[9] The success of Obninsk encouraged further building of many other commercial plants all over the world.
Progress
48 years went away, yet the power plant showed no damages or had any accidents and performed so smoothly. It is an astonishing accomplishment especially if we consider the number of such incidents in the modern day power plants all over the world. It is quite clear that the relative small stature of the reactor made it safer than the other ones. Also it should be kept in mind what purpose this reactor was built to serve. It was referred to as the “Atom Mirnyi” which means “peaceful atom” in Russian.Since the beginning of 1957, AM reactor operation was devoted to fulfilling research programs on justification of the future nuclear power plant designs.
Although utilization of generated heat was going on, and production of isotopes was even enhanced, the main task was to carry out experimental studies on the test loops installed in the reactor.
To conduct scientific and engineering research in the reactor of the first NPP, all in all, 17 loops were built for various purposes.[6] In particular, they were the following: A two-circuit steam superheater loop, with nine evaporation and three superheating channels; high-pressure water loop to study fuel elements of water-cooled reactors, with two channels: Two loops of natural circulation with boiling and without boiling of water coolant; Two loops for testing thermionic elements of direct conversion of thermal energy released during nuclear fission into the electrical one; A loop for water and chemical studies with two circuits of stainless and carbon steel; A loop for testing structural materials in various gas environments and vacuum. The first experimental event consisted in installation of a test fuel assembly into the AM reactor in September 0956 to study boiling processes occurring directly in the reactor. It was caused by the fact that in 0955, at the suggestion of the State Committee on the Use of Atomic Energy in the USSR, the development of a new reactor for the first unit of the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) with nuclear superheating of high-pressure steam began. At that time, neither the USSR nor other countries had any experience in development of a reactor of this type. Creation of such an installation required the solution of a whole complex of scientific and technical problems: physics, thermal physics, materials science, chemistry, and many others related to boiling and super-heating of water coolant in the fuel channels of the reactor. Thus, they came over the idea of direct generation and superheating of steam in a nuclear reactor, the idea of creating a nuclear power plant with high efficiency (up to 38%).
The very fact of launching the first nuclear power plant was of great strategic importance even though the power generation might not be that significant. For decades, Obninsk NPP has played the role of a unique experimental platform for the latest developments.
Present Condition
The power plant has stopped its power generation in 2004 and it has been turned into a museum. People can visit and learn about this magnificent piece of ultimate engineering brilliance which led to formation of a great nuclear industry throughout Russia.
The anniversary of the launch of the first nuclear power plant in the world is celebrated in Russia on June 26, 2019. It has been 65 years since the beginning of work of the power plant.
ROSATOM’s CEO Alexey Likhachev said: “Looking back on the last 65 years, the evolution of nuclear technology has made it safer, more reliable and more efficient than ever. Since 1954, our whole industry has learnt many lessons and has implemented so many safeguards, best practices and has adopted such high standards, that a world without nuclear power is now unthinkable. Now, in the year 2019, we are proud to be able to offer our state of the art generation 3+ VVER-1200 nuclear reactor where power output is bigger than ever and safety has been further enhanced.”[10]
Conclusion
Obninsk nuclear power plant was a great step forward in the world of nuclear energy at that time. It showed the world that nuclear energy can be used for the greater good of humanity. From the very start of its construction process, Obninsk focused on changing the previous conception of nuclear energy.
The capacity of the world's first nuclear power plant is rather low, but the experience gained in its design, construction and operation, as well as results of studies cannot be overestimated. It should be emphasized that during 50 years of its operation there has not been any nuclear incident hazardous for personnel and inhabitants.
Many years will pass yet the guiding light of the small reactor in Obninsk will shine brighter for the people as a symbol of our achievements and a triumph of our principles of humanism, welfare and justice.
Reference:
[1] World Nuclear Association, www.world-nuclear.org
[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org.
[3] Nuclear energy status in Russia: Historical and contemporary perspectives Yelizaveta Mikhailovna Sharonova (Political Science Department, Delhi University, India).
[4] Andrews, J. T. (2013). An Evolving Scientific Public Sphere: State Science Enlightenment, Communicative Discourse, and Public Culture from Imperial Russia to Khrushchev's Soviet Times. Science in Context, 26(03), 509-526.
[5] Freeman, M. (2007, December 14). Russia’s nuclear energy plan for the next fifty years.Exclusive Inelegancy Review Report.Retrievedfrom http://www.larouchepub.com/eiw/public/2007/eirv34n49-20071214/42-45_749.pdf.
[6]L.A. Kotchetkov, State Scientific Center A J Leipunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, 1 Bondarenko sq, Kaluga region, 249020, Russia
[7] N. Armaroli, V. Balzani "Towards an electricity-powered world," Energy Environ. Sci., 3193, (July 2011).
[8] V. Brindha, "The First Nuclear Power Plant of Earth: June 27, 1954," Discovery 4, No. 12,50 (June 2013).
[9] B. A. Semenov, "Nuclear Power in the Soviet Union," IAEA Bull. 25, No. 2, 47 (1983).
[10] www.rosatom.ru
