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It's always nice to be the first in something. Likewise, our country, while still part of the USSR, turned out to be the first in many endeavors. A striking example is the construction of a nuclear power plant. It is clear that many people were involved in its development and construction. But still, the world's first nuclear power plant was located in what is now Russia.

Background to the emergence of nuclear power plants

It began with the use of the atom for military purposes. Before the world's first nuclear power plant was built, many doubted that nuclear energy could be used for peaceful purposes.

Was first created atomic bomb. Everyone knows the sad experience of using it in Japan. Then, at the test site, an atomic bomb created by Soviet scientists was tested.

After some time, the USSR began to produce plutonium in an industrial reactor. All conditions have been created for the production of enriched uranium on a large scale.

It was at this time, in the fall of 1949, that active discussions began on how to organize an enterprise in which nuclear energy would be used to generate electricity and heat.

Theoretical development and creation of the project was entrusted to Laboratory “B”. At that time it was headed by D.I. Blokhintsev. The Scientific Council, under its leadership, proposed a nuclear reactor that would run on enriched uranium. Beryllium was used as a moderator. Cooling was carried out using helium. Other reactor options were also considered. For example, using fast and intermediate neutrons. Other cooling methods were also allowed.

In the spring of 1950, a resolution of the Council of Ministers was issued. It stated that it was necessary to build three experimental reactors:

• the first is uranium-graphite with water cooling;
• the second was helium-graphite, which was supposed to use gas cooling;
• the third is uranium-beryllium, also with a gas cooler.

The remainder of the current year was allotted for the creation of the technical project. Using these three reactors, the power of the world's first nuclear power plant was about 5000 kW.

Where and by whom were they created?

Of course, in order to erect these buildings, it was necessary to decide on the location. Thus, the first nuclear power plant in the world was built in the city of Obninsk.

Construction work was entrusted to the Khimmash Research Institute. At that moment it was led by N. Dollezhal. By education, he is a civil chemist who was far from nuclear physics. But still, his knowledge turned out to be useful during the construction of structures.

Through joint efforts, and a little later several other institutes got involved in the work, the world's first nuclear power plant was built. There is more than one creator. There are many of them, because such a large-scale project cannot be created alone. But the main developer is called Kurchatov, and the builder is Dollezhal.

Construction progress and launch preparations

In parallel with the creation of the world's first nuclear power plant, stands were developed in the laboratory. They were prototypes that were later used on nuclear submarines.

In the summer of 1950 they began preparatory work. They lasted for one year. The result of all the work was the very first nuclear power plant in the world. Its original design has remained virtually unchanged.

The following adjustments have been made:

• the uranium-beryllium reactor was created with a lead-bismuth cooler;
• The helium-graphite reactor was replaced by a water-water reactor, which formed the basis of all subsequent nuclear power plants, and was also used on icebreakers and submarines.

In June 1951, a decree was issued to build an experimental power plant. At the same time, all the necessary materials for the uranium-graphite reactor were delivered. And in July, construction of a water-cooled nuclear power plant began.

The first launch providing electricity to populated areas

The loading of the reactor core began in May 1954. Namely the 9th. In the evening of the same day, a chain reaction began in it. uranium occurred in such a way that it was self-supporting. This was the so-called physical launch of the station.

A month and a half later, in June 1954, the power start-up of the nuclear power plant was carried out. This consisted in the fact that steam was supplied to the turbogenerator. The world's first nuclear power plant started operating on June 26 at half past five in the evening. It functioned for 48 years. Its role was to give impetus to the emergence of similar power plants around the world.

The next day, electric current was given to the city of the world's first nuclear power plant (1954) - to Obninsk near Moscow.

Push for other nuclear power plants around the world

It had a relatively small power, only 5 MW. One loading of the reactor was enough for it to operate at full power for 3 months.

And despite this, it attracted the attention of people from all over the world. Numerous delegations came to the city of the world's first nuclear power plant. Their goal was to see with their own eyes the miracle created Soviet people. In order to obtain electricity, you do not need to use a turbine generator without coal, oil or gas. And the nuclear power plant provided electricity to a city with a population of about 40 thousand people. At the same time, only its quantity was consumed equal to 2 tons per year.

This circumstance became the impetus for the construction of similar stations almost all over the world. Their power was enormous. And yet the beginning was here - in small Obninsk, where the atom became a hard worker, throwing off his military uniform.

When did the nuclear power plant stop working?

The first nuclear power plant in Russia was shut down in 2002 on April 29. There were economic prerequisites for this. Its power wasn't big enough.

During her work, data were obtained that confirmed all theoretical calculations. All technical and engineering solutions were justified.

This made it possible to launch the Beloyarsk NPP within 10 years (1964). Moreover, its power was 50 times greater than that of Obninsk.

Where else are nuclear reactors used?

In parallel with the creation of the nuclear power plant, a group led by Kurchatov designed a nuclear reactor that could be installed on an icebreaker. This task was as important as providing electricity without using gas and coal.

The USSR, as well as Russia, was as important as possible big time extend navigation in the seas that lie to the north. Nuclear icebreakers could provide year-round navigation in these territories.

Such developments began in 1953, and six years later it was sent on its first voyage. nuclear icebreaker"Lenin". He regularly served in the Arctic for 30 years.

No less important was the creation of a nuclear submarine. And she was launched in 1957. At the same time, this submarine made a trip under the ice to North Pole and returned to base. The name of this submarine was “Leninsky Komsomol”.

Impact of nuclear power plants on the environment

This question interested people already when the first nuclear power plant in the world was built in the city of Obninsk. It is now known that the impact on the environment is carried out in three directions:

Thermal emissions;

A gas that is also radioactive;

Liquids around nuclear power plants.

Moreover, the release of radiation occurs even during normal operation of the reactors. Such constant flows of radioactive substances into environment occur under the control of NPP personnel. They then spread in the air and soil, penetrating plants and the bodies of animals and people.

It is worth noting that not only nuclear power plants are a source of radiation waste. Medicine, science, industry and Agriculture also contribute their share to the overall standings. All waste must be neutralized in a special way. And then they are subject to burial.

The very first central power plant, the Pearl Street, was commissioned on September 4, 1882 in New York City. The station was built with the support of the Edison Illuminating Company, which was headed by Thomas Edison. Several Edison generators with a total capacity of over 500 kW were installed on it. The station supplied electricity to an entire area of ​​New York with an area of ​​about 2.5 square kilometers. The station burned to the ground in 1890; only one dynamo survived, which is now in the Greenfield Village Museum, Michigan.

On September 30, 1882, the first hydroelectric power plant, the Vulcan Street in Wisconsin, began operation. The author of the project was G.D. Rogers, head of the Appleton Paper & Pulp Company. A generator with a power of approximately 12.5 kW was installed at the station. There was enough electricity to power Rogers' home and his two paper mills.

Gloucester Road Power Station. Brighton was one of the first cities in Britain to have an uninterrupted power supply. In 1882, Robert Hammond founded the Hammond Electric Light Company, and on 27 February 1882 he opened the Gloucester Road Power Station. The station consisted of a brush dynamo, which was used to drive sixteen arc lamps. In 1885, Gloucester Power Station was purchased by the Brighton Electric Light Company. Later on this territory was built new station, consisting of three brush dynamos with 40 lamps.

Power station Winter Palace

In 1886, in one of the courtyards of the New Hermitage, which has since been called Elektrodvor, a power plant was built according to the design of the palace management technician, Vasily Leontievich Pashkov. This power plant was the largest in all of Europe for 15 years.

Turbine room of the power plant in the Winter Palace. 1901

Initially, candles were used to illuminate the Winter Palace, and from 1861 gas lamps began to be used. However, the obvious advantages of electric lamps prompted specialists to look for possibilities of replacing gas lighting in the buildings of the Winter Palace and the adjacent Hermitage buildings.

Engineer Vasily Leontievich Pashkov proposed, as an experiment, using electricity to illuminate palace halls during Christmas and New Year's holidays 1885.

On November 9, 1885, the project to build an “electricity factory” was approved by the emperor Alexander III. The project provided for the electrification of the Winter Palace, the Hermitage buildings, the courtyard and the surrounding area over three years until 1888.
The work was entrusted to Vasily Pashkov. To eliminate the possibility of vibration of the building from work steam engines, the power plant was located in a separate pavilion made of glass and metal. It was located in the second courtyard of the Hermitage, since then called “Electric”.

The station building occupied an area of ​​630 m², consisted of a machine room with 6 boilers, 4 steam engines and 2 locomotives and rooms with 36 electric dynamos. The total power reached 445 hp. The first to illuminate part of the ceremonial rooms were the Antechamber, Petrovsky, Great Field Marshal's, Armorial, and St. George's halls, and external illumination was arranged. Three lighting modes were proposed: full (holiday) to be turned on five times a year (4888 incandescent lamps and 10 Yablochkov candles); working – 230 incandescent lamps; duty (night) - 304 incandescent lamps. The station consumed about 30 thousand poods (520 tons) of coal per year.

The main supplier of electrical equipment was Siemens and Halske, the largest electrical company of that time.

The power plant network was constantly expanding and by 1893 it already amounted to 30 thousand incandescent lamps and 40 arc lamps. Not only the buildings of the palace complex were illuminated, but also Palace Square and the buildings located on it.

The creation of the Winter Palace power plant has become a clear example of the possibility of creating a powerful and economical source of electricity that can power a large number of consumers.

The electrical lighting system of the Winter Palace and Hermitage buildings was switched to the city power grid after 1918. And the building of the Winter Palace power station existed until 1945, after which it was dismantled.

On July 16, 1886, the industrial and commercial Electric Lighting Society was registered in St. Petersburg. This date is generally considered to be the founding date of the first Russian energy system. Among the founders were Siemens and Halske, Deutsche Bank and Russian bankers. Since 1900, the company has been called the Electric Lighting Society of 1886. The purpose of the company was designated according to the interests of the main founder, Karl Fedorovich Siemens: “For lighting streets, factories, factories, shops and all kinds of other places and premises with electricity” [Charter..., 1886, p. 3]. The company had several branches in different cities of the country and made a very large contribution to the development of the electrical sector of the Russian economy.

The majority of the population of Russia and other countries former USSR It is known that large-scale electrification of the country is associated with the implementation of the State Electrification of Russia (GoElRo) plan adopted in 1920.

In fairness, it should be noted that the development of this plan dates back to the time before the First World War, which, in fact, then prevented its adoption.

Source of information - http://back-in-ussr.info/2012/01/pervaya-v-mire-aes/ . Published 01/19/2012.

The world's first nuclear power plant was built in the USSR nine years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This most important event in the history of technology was preceded by feverish and intense work to create our own nuclear weapons. This work was led by a prominent scientist and talented organizer Igor Kurchatov. In 1943, Kurchatov created his own research center in Moscow (at that time it was called Laboratory No. 2, and was later transformed into the Institute of Atomic Energy).

In this and some other laboratories, all the research of American scientists was repeated in the shortest possible time, and pure uranium and pure graphite were obtained. In December 1946, the first chain reaction was carried out here at the experimental nuclear uranium-graphite reactor F1. The power of this reactor barely reached 100 W. However, it was possible to obtain important data that served as the basis for the design of a large industrial reactor, the development of which was already in full swing.

There was no experience in building such a reactor in the USSR. After some deliberation, Kurchatov decided to entrust this work to NIIkhimmash, which was headed by Nikolai Dollezhal. Although Dollezhal was a pure mechanical chemist and never studied nuclear physics, his knowledge turned out to be very valuable. However, on our own NIIkhimmash also would not have been able to create a reactor. The work began successfully only after several other institutes joined in. The operating principle and design of the Dollezhal reactor were clear in general terms: graphite blocks with channels for uranium blocks and control rods—neutron absorbers—were placed in a metal casing. The total mass of uranium had to reach the required value calculated by physicists, at which a sustained chain reaction of fission of uranium atoms began. As a result of the fission reaction of uranium nuclei, not only two fragments (two new nuclei) appeared, but also several neutrons. These neutrons of the first generation served to support the reaction, as a result of which neutrons of the second generation, third, and so on appeared.

On average, for every thousand neutrons generated, only a few were not created instantly, at the moment of fission, and a little later flew out of the fragments. The existence of these so-called delayed neutrons, which are a small part of the uranium fission process, turns out to be crucial to the possibility of a controlled chain reaction. Some of them are delayed by a fraction of a second, others by seconds or more.

Most neutrons are created simultaneously with fission, and after a short time their lives (about one hundred thousandths of a second) it is impossible to influence the course of the reaction in any way, just as it is impossible to stop one that has already begun nuclear explosion. Based on this information, Dollezhal’s team was able to quickly cope with the task. Already in 1948, a plutonium plant with several industrial reactors was built, and in August 1949, the first Soviet atomic bomb was tested.

After this, Kurchatov could pay more attention to the peaceful use of atomic energy. On his instructions, Feinberg and Dollezhal began to develop a reactor design for a nuclear power plant. The first one did physical calculations, and the second one did engineering calculations. The fact that a nuclear reactor can be not only a producer of weapons-grade plutonium, but also a powerful power plant, became clear to its first creators. One of the external manifestations of an ongoing nuclear reaction, along with radioactive radiation, is a significant release of heat. In an atomic bomb, this heat is released instantly and serves as one of its damaging factors. In a reactor where the chain reaction is in a smoldering state, intense heat release can continue for months and even years, and several kilograms of uranium can release as much energy as they release during the combustion of several thousand tons of conventional fuel. Since Soviet physicists had already learned to control the nuclear reaction, the problem of creating an energy reactor came down to finding ways to remove heat from it. The experience gained during Kurchatov's experiments was very valuable, but did not answer many questions. None of the reactors built by this time were power reactors. In industrial reactors thermal energy was not only unnecessary, but also harmful - it had to be removed, that is, the uranium blocks had to be cooled. The problem of collecting and using the heat released during a nuclear reaction has not yet been considered either in the USSR or in the USA.

The most important questions on the way to designing a power reactor for a nuclear power plant were: what type of reactor (fast or slow neutrons) would be most appropriate, what should be the neutron moderator (graphite or heavy water), what could serve as the coolant (water, gas or liquid metal) what its temperature and pressure should be. In addition, there were many other questions, for example, about materials, about safety for personnel and about increasing efficiency.

The energy reactor was not so much an industrial as a scientific facility. The construction of the nuclear power plant was directly supervised by the Obninsk Physics and Energy Laboratory, founded in 1947. In the first years there were neither sufficient scientific forces nor necessary equipment. Living conditions were also far from acceptable. The city was just being built. Unpaved streets were covered in spring and autumn with impassable mud, in which cars became hopelessly stuck. Most of the residents huddled in plank barracks and uncomfortable “Finnish” houses. The laboratory was located in completely random buildings and unsuitable for scientific purposes (one was a former children's colony, the other was the Morozov mansion). Electricity was generated by an old 500 kW steam turbine. When she stopped, the entire village and construction site were plunged into darkness. The most complex calculations were carried out manually. However, the scientists (many of whom had only recently returned from the front) persevered through the difficulties. The thought that they were designing and building the world's first nuclear power plant excited minds and aroused great enthusiasm.

During construction, the design of an industrial reactor was taken as a basis. Only instead of uranium rods, uranium heat-removing elements - fuel rods - were provided. The difference between them was that water flowed around the rod from the outside, while the fuel rod was a double-walled tube. Enriched uranium was located between the walls, and water flowed through the internal channel. Calculations have shown that with this design it is much easier to heat it to the required temperature. This seemingly simple scheme in description was in fact technically very complex. The theory of the reactor did not exist then - it was born along with it. Especially complex element there were fuel rods, the design of which largely depended on the efficiency of the entire installation. The processes that took place in them were very complex from all points of view: it was necessary to decide how and how to load uranium into them, to what extent it was necessary to enrich it, how to achieve circulation of water that was under high pressure, and how to ensure heat exchange.

Not only the filling of the fuel element, but also its cladding created a problem. The material of the heat transfer elements had to be durable, anti-corrosion resistant and should not change its properties under prolonged exposure to radiation. The best material from a chemical point of view, stainless steel, was not liked by physicists because it strongly absorbed neutrons. In the end, Dollezhal finally settled on steel. To compensate for its absorbing properties, it was decided to increase the percentage of enriched uranium (much later, a special zirconium alloy was developed for fuel elements that satisfied all the necessary conditions). Fabrication of fuel rods and welding of stainless steel proved extremely difficult. Each fuel rod had several seams, and there were 128 such fuel rods. Meanwhile, the requirements for the tightness of the seams were the highest - they would break and fall hot water under high pressure into the reactor core threatened disaster. One of the many institutes that worked on this problem was entrusted with the development of stainless steel welding technology. In the end the work was successfully completed. The reactor was launched in May 1954, and in June of the same year the nuclear power plant produced its first current.

At the first nuclear power plant, the control system for the processes occurring in the reactor was carefully thought out. Devices were created for automatic and manual remote control of control rods, for emergency shutdown of the reactor, and devices for replacing fuel rods. It is known that a nuclear reaction begins only when a certain critical mass of fissile material is reached. However, during the operation of the reactor, nuclear fuel burns out. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate a significant supply of fuel in order to ensure the operation of the reactor for more or less a significant time. The influence of this supercritical reserve on the course of the reaction was compensated by special rods that absorbed excess neutrons. If it was necessary to increase the power of the reactor (as the fuel burned out), the control rods were slightly extended from the reactor core and installed in a position where the reactor was on the verge of a chain reaction and active fission of uranium nuclei was in progress. Finally, emergency protection rods were provided, the lowering of which into the core instantly extinguished the nuclear reaction.

Launch of the world's first nuclear power plant

A source of information - http://www.prlib.ru/history/pages/item.aspx?itemid=575.

On June 27, 1954, in the village of Obninskoye, Kaluga Region, at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering named after A.I. Leipunsky (Laboratory “B”), the world’s first nuclear power plant was launched, equipped with one uranium-graphite channel reactor with water coolant AM-1 (“ peaceful atom") with a capacity of 5 MW. From this date, the history of nuclear energy began.

During the Second World War, work began in the Soviet Union to create nuclear weapons, led by the physicist and academician I.V. Kurchatov. In 1943, Kurchatov created a research center in Moscow - Laboratory No. 2 - later transformed into the Institute of Atomic Energy. In 1948, a plutonium plant with several industrial reactors was built, and in August 1949, the first Soviet atomic bomb was tested. After the production of enriched uranium was organized and mastered on an industrial scale, an active discussion began on the problems and directions for creating power nuclear reactors for transport use and generating electricity and heat. On behalf of Kurchatov, domestic physicists E. L. Feinberg and N. A. Dollezhal began to develop a reactor design for a nuclear power plant.

On May 16, 1950, a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR determined the construction of three experimental reactors - uranium-graphite with water cooling, uranium-graphite with gas cooling and uranium-beryllium with gas or liquid metal cooling. According to the original plan, they were all supposed to work in turn on a single steam turbine and generator with a capacity of 5000 kW.

The construction of the nuclear power plant was led by the Obninsk Physics and Energy Laboratory. During construction, the design of an industrial reactor was taken as a basis, but instead of uranium rods, uranium fuel elements, the so-called fuel rods, were provided. The difference between them was that water flowed around the rod from the outside, and the fuel rod was a double-walled tube. Enriched uranium was located between the walls, and water flowed through the internal channel. Scientific calculations have shown that with this design it is much easier to heat it to the desired temperature. The material of the heat transfer elements had to be durable, anti-corrosion resistant and should not change its properties under prolonged exposure to radiation. At the first nuclear power plant, the control system for the processes occurring in the reactor was carefully thought out. For this purpose, devices were created for automatic and manual remote control of control rods, for emergency shutdown of the reactor, and devices for replacing fuel rods.

In addition to generating energy, the reactor at the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant also served as a base for experimental research and for the production of isotopes for medical needs. Operating experience of the first, essentially experimental, nuclear power plant fully confirmed the engineering and technical solutions proposed by nuclear industry specialists, which made it possible to begin the implementation of a large-scale program for the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Soviet Union.

In May 1954, the reactor was launched, and in June of the same year, the Obninsk nuclear power plant produced the first industrial current, opening the way for the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Obninsk NPP has operated successfully for almost 48 years.

April 29, 2002 at 11:31 a.m. Moscow time, the reactor of the world's first nuclear power plant in Obninsk was shut down forever. According to the press service of the Ministry Russian Federation According to nuclear energy, the plant was shut down solely for economic reasons, since “maintaining it in a safe condition became more and more expensive every year.”

A nuclear energy museum was created on the basis of the Obninsk nuclear power plant.

Lit.: Velikhov E. P. From nuclear bomb to a nuclear power plant. Igor Vasilievich Kurchatov (1903-1960) // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2003. T. 73. No. 1. P. 51-64; The same [Electronic resource]. URL: http://vivovoco.astronet.ru/VV/PAPERS/BIO/BORODA/BORODA1.HTM; State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom": website. 20080-2010. URL: http://www.rosatom.ru/; State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation - Institute of Physics and Energy named after A. I. Leipunsky: website. 2004-2011. URL: http://www.ippe.obninsk.ru/; 10 years of the world's first nuclear power plant of the USSR. M., 1964; The world's first nuclear power plant - how it began: Sat. history-arch. doc. / Institute of Physics and Energy named after Academician A. I. Leypunovsky; [Comp. N.I. Ermolaev]. Obninsk, 1999.