Moscow cruise for Leningrad II parts
19 June 2014
Two steam generators destined for the Leningrad II nuclear power plant in western Russia have sailed by barge through central Moscow on their journey from the production plant.
.jpg "Leningrad II SGs passing Kremlin 460 (AEM)") |
| The cargo passes the Kremlin as it travels up the Moscow River (Image: AEM) |
The components - each measuring almost 15 metres in length and weighing some 430 tonnes - were manufactured by Atomenergomash (AEM) subsidiary ZIO-Podolsk. The steam generators were initially moved by rail from ZIO-Podolsk's plant to the city of Serpukhov, about 100km south of Moscow, and then loaded on to a barge - 70 metres long and 14 metres wide - for their journey to Sosnovy Bor in Leningrad Oblast.
The barge will travel along rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs to reach its destination. On 16 June, the cargo travelled through central Moscow along the Moscow River. On arrival in Sosnovy Bor, the steam generators will be unloaded from the barge and moved to the nearby Leningrad II construction site using special transporters.
Leningrad Phase II is a new nuclear power plant adjacent to the existing Leningrad nuclear plant site. Two AES-2006 design nuclear units are being built there, which should begin operation in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Two further AES-2006 units are planned for the site. Each AES-2006 unit will employ four steam generators.
Steam generators are used in pressurized water reactors to transfer heat from the reactor's primary coolant circuit to a secondary circuit - turning water into steam that goes on to drive turbines and generate electricity.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News