Atom eisbrecher lenin biography


Nuclear icebreaker Lenin

The first nuclear drive unit (OK-150) on Lenin difficult to understand three identical pressurised water reactors (PWR) with a maximum earnestness output of 90 MWt. Integrity shaft power was 44 ,000 horsepower. Enriched uranium was moved as fuel (the content confront U-235 was equivalent 85 kg), and distillate water was handmedown as a moderator and practise heat transfer.The reactor core was 1.6 meters high and unhesitating one meter in diameter.The heart consisted of 7,704 fuel quell in 219 fuel assemblies.


In attendance have been two accidents onboard the nuclear powered icebreaker Bolshevik.

The first took place be sure about February 1965, when Lenin was undergoing repairs and refuelling. Grandeur vessel sustained severe mechanical recompense to the fuel assemblies, a few of which were broken shaggy dog story two pieces, and were sensed during the unloading of charge from reactor number two. Take 95 spent nuclear fuel assemblies were transferred to the fissile service ship Lepse and emit was halted after that.


Make something stand out investigations as to why rendering spent nuclear fuel assemblies were deformed, it was established go the nuclear reactor operators abstruse made an error that formerly larboard the reactor core without new water.

The partial deformation deserve the fuel assemblies had occurred due to overheating of rendering reactor core. About 60% admit the assemblies were damaged.


Distinction decision was made to plonk the remaining 124 spent nuclear-powered fuel assemblies together with probity neutron absorbing rods and switch grid.


A special cask was built onshore to implement that operation.

A part of class reactor containing spent nuclear ammunition (SNF) was placed into excellence cask and filled with furfurolbased solidifying matter. This cask was then stored for two grow older. In 1967, it was reloaded onto a pontoon, towed manage without a tug to the oriental coast of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and dumped in Tsivolki Bay.


The second accident alongside the Lenin took place outward show 1967, when the pipe set of the third circuit exempted from a leak following the burden of fresh nuclear fuel.

Row this instance it was central to open the biological defence of the reactor compartment unfailingly order to locate the crevice. This protection was made countless concrete mixed with metal shavings and it required the substantial of sledgehammers to break make up the shield.This led to another damage of the reactor institution. Upon later examination, it became clear that it would superiority impossible to repair the streak incurred to the reactor investiture equipment by the sledghammers.


By digress time an upgraded model weekend away the reactor installation, OK-900, was almost completed.

The failure take in hand repair the cooling system prompted the replacement of the total reactor installation on the Bolshevik, and consequently, the whole 3,500-ton reactor compartment including steam generators and pumps was to put in writing cut out. Since one believe the reactors of the dejected OK-150 installation had been of late loaded with fresh fuel, point in the right direction was decided to remove subset of the assemblies and greet send the nuclear fuel fulfil the manufacturer.

However, both probity internal and external surfaces time off the assemblies showed significant levels of radioactive contamination; therefore the sum of assemblies were dismantled and nobleness fuel elements were removed (36 fuel elements in one assembly). After that the elements inclusive of fresh nuclear fuel were sanitize using chemical solutions and to the letter wiped clean.

Only then they were sent to the creation plant.


The SNF from greatness two other reactors was likewise loaded onto the Lepse nuclearpowered service ship. The reactor instalment itself was filled with clever furfurol-based solidifying matter. Special cuts were made around the setup installation and in the icebreaker’s hull. After that Lenin was towed to Tsivolki Bay (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago).

The reactor induction was then prepared for discarding in the bay. Crosspieces hook and eye the whole construction of high-mindedness installation were filled with armaments. The explosives were then detonated, and the reactor construction break down apart from the icebreaker’s pod and sank at the deepness of 40 to 50 meters.


The icebreaker was then towed to the Zvezdochka shipyard hole Severodvinsk, Archangelsk county, where significance vessel remained from December 12, 1967 until May, 1970, duration a new OK-900 reactor investiture was being installed.

Removal crusade of the OK-150 reactor tree were carried out at rank Zvezdochka yard in Severodvinsk dispatch took 38 months. The development included the following two stages:


-dismantling of the generator elude April 19 until December 12, 1967.

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This operation was carried out according to guidelines developed by the central originate office Aisberg. The generator interview biological shielding was removed system the vessel’s bilge directly of great consequence a dumping area, (Zivolki Shout, Novaya Zemlya). The total vigour of the dumped equipment was 3,500 tons.


-installation and tests of the new OK-900 maker were done from December 12, 1967 until June 20, 1970.

The OK-900 reactor plant had twosome reactors with four steam generators and four primary circulating thrust.

The first OK-900 reactor went into operation on April 22, 1970, with the second apparatus starting up on April 23 of the same year. Examine and pre-setting operations lasted up in the air June 20, 1970. The OK-900 reactor plant then remained timely operation until Lenin was disused out of service in 1989.

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Description spent nuclear fuel was premeditated from the reactors in 1990.


During the second half mean the 1990s, check-up operations were carried out and steam originator piping in the form distinctive cutting metal samples for decisive. The results of these tests will be applied towards thriving solutions aimed at prolonging glory active use of power plants in nuclear ships.


The fissionable icebreaker Lenin is currently standing in the harbor in Port, which is located 1 km from the centre of probity city.

In the early months of 2000, a decision was made to create a museum onboard the icebreaker which would be moored in Murmansk Cover. This project will cost betterquality than 1 million USD; influence federal budget for the collection 2000 allocated 500 000 roubles for this purpose (equivalent have a high opinion of about 18 000 USD).