Nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" part 2: views inside. Nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" Who is the chief designer of the nuclear icebreaker
It so happened that the first use of atomic energy turned out to be military. This applies not only - the first nuclear propulsion system also had military applications. On January 17, 1955, the crew of the American nuclear submarine Nautilus sent a historic message: Underway on nuclear power. The Soviet Union, however, was not far behind. And, what is gratifying, almost simultaneously with the first Soviet nuclear submarine K-3 "Leninsky Komsomol", the first surface and the first peaceful ship with a nuclear reactor, the nuclear icebreaker Lenin, was launched.
Photos: "Country Rosatom".
Not a single icebreaker on diesel or gas turbine propulsion systems can operate uninterruptedly for more than a month and a half: there will not be enough fuel. Therefore, already in the early 1950s, the question arose of creating an icebreaker on a "nuclear course".
The scientific director of the project was the great Anatoly Alexandrov, the future "atomic" president of the USSR Academy of Sciences (he also led the Komsomolets project). The reactor was commissioned to develop.
Vasily Neganov, chief designer icebreaker "Lenin" hard way- from the artel, in which he unloaded barges, to the designer of ocean timber carriers, in the Great Patriotic War he accepted ships that arrived under Lend-Lease, designed icebreakers (albeit port ones).
The joint intensive work of designers has borne fruit. On December 5, 1957, the nuclear-powered icebreaker was launched. This does not mean that the ship could immediately go to fight against hummocks. There was a long build ahead.
Three nuclear reactors were installed on the icebreaker. Afrikantov's first creations were the OK-150 reactors, pressurized water reactors in which neutrons were moderated by pressurized superheated water. Each of the reactors was loaded with about 80 kilograms of enriched uranium dioxide, and each produced 90 megawatts of power.
Correction of errors: In the first version of the material, the year of the launch of the icebreaker was incorrectly indicated - this happened in 1957, and not in 1955, and the name of the first Soviet nuclear submarine - it was called "Leninsky Komsomol", and not "Komsomolets" . In addition, information about the fourth captain of the Lenin, Valentin Davydyants, who has been in command of the icebreaker since the end of 2014, has been added to the article.
Russia is a country with vast territories in the Arctic. However, their development is impossible without a powerful fleet, which makes it possible to ensure navigation in extreme conditions. For these purposes, several icebreakers were built during the existence of the Russian Empire. With the development of technology, they were equipped with more and more modern engines. Finally, in 1959, the Lenin nuclear icebreaker was built. At the time of its creation, it was the only civilian vessel in the world with a nuclear reactor, which, moreover, could sail without refueling for 12 months. Its appearance in the expanses of the Arctic made it possible to significantly increase the duration of navigation through
background
The world's first icebreaker was built in 1837 in the American city of Philadelphia and was intended to destroy the ice cover in the local harbor. After 27 years, the ship "Pilot" was created in the Russian Empire, which was also used to navigate ships through the ice in the conditions of the port area. The place of its operation was the St. Petersburg sea harbor. Somewhat later, in 1896, the first river icebreaker was created in England. It was ordered by the Ryazan-Ural Railway Company and was used at the Saratov ferry. Around the same time, it became necessary to transport goods to remote areas of the Russian north, so at the end of the 19th century, the world's first ship for operation in the Arctic was built at the Armstrong Whitworth shipyard, called the Yermak. It was acquired by our country and was part of the Baltic fleet until 1964. Another well-known ship, the Krasin icebreaker (before 1927, it bore the name Svyatogor), took part in the Northern convoys during the Great Patriotic War. In addition, in the period from 1921 to 1941, the Baltic Shipyard built eight more ships intended for operation in the Arctic.
The first nuclear icebreaker: characteristics and description
The nuclear-powered ship "Lenin", which was sent to a well-deserved rest in 1985, has now been turned into a museum. Its length is 134 m, width - 27.6 m, and height - 16.1 m with a displacement of 16 thousand tons. The ship was equipped with two nuclear reactors and four turbines with a total capacity of 32.4 MW, thanks to which it was able to move at a speed of 18 knots. In addition, the first nuclear-powered icebreaker was equipped with two autonomous power plants. Also on board were created all the conditions for a comfortable stay for the crew during many months of Arctic expeditions.
Who created the first nuclear icebreaker of the USSR
Work on a civilian ship equipped with a nuclear engine was recognized as a particularly responsible business. After all, the Soviet Union, among other things, was in dire need of another example confirming the assertion that the "socialist atom" is peaceful and creative. At the same time, no one doubted that the future chief designer of a nuclear-powered icebreaker should have extensive experience in building ships capable of operating in the Arctic. Taking into account these circumstances, it was decided to appoint V. I. Neganov to this responsible post. Even before the war, this well-known designer received the Stalin Prize for designing the first Soviet Arctic linear icebreaker. In 1954, he was appointed to the post of chief designer of the Lenin nuclear-powered ship and began to work together with I. I. Afrikantov, who was instructed to create an atomic engine for this ship. It must be said that both design scientists brilliantly coped with the tasks assigned to them, for which they were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
The decision to start work on the creation of the first Soviet nuclear-powered ship for operation in the Arctic was taken by the Council of Ministers of the USSR in November 1953. In view of the eccentricity of the tasks set, it was decided to build a model of the engine room of the future ship in real size in order to work out the layout decisions of the designers on it. Thus, the need for any alterations or shortcomings during construction works directly on the ship. In addition, the designers who designed the first Soviet nuclear icebreaker were tasked with eliminating any possibility of damage to the ship's hull by ice, so a special heavy-duty steel was created at the famous Prometheus Institute.
The history of the construction of the icebreaker "Lenin"
Direct work on the creation of the ship began in 1956 at the Leningrad Shipbuilding Plant. Andre Marty (in 1957 it was renamed the Admiralty Plant). At the same time, some of its important systems and parts were designed and assembled in other factories. Thus, the turbines were produced by the Kirov Plant, the propulsion motors were produced by the Leningrad Electrosila Plant, and the main turbogenerators were the result of the work of the workers of the Kharkov Electromechanical Plant. Although the launch of the vessel took place already at the beginning of the winter of 1957, the nuclear installation was installed only in 1959, after which the Lenin nuclear icebreaker was sent for sea trials.
Since the ship was unique at that time, it was the pride of the country. Therefore, during construction and subsequent testing, it was repeatedly shown to high-ranking foreign guests, such as members of the Chinese government, as well as politicians who at that time held the posts of British Prime Minister and US Vice President.
Operation history
During the debut navigation, the first Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker proved to be excellent, showing excellent performance, and most importantly, the presence of such a vessel in the Soviet fleet made it possible to extend the navigation period by several weeks.
Seven years after the start of operation, it was decided to replace the outdated three-reactor nuclear plant with a two-reactor one. After the modernization, the ship returned to work again, and in the summer of 1971, this nuclear-powered ship became the first surface ship that could pass Severnaya Zemlya from the Pole. By the way, the polar bear cub, donated by the team to the Leningrad Zoo, became the trophy of this expedition.
As already mentioned, in 1989 the operation of Lenin was completed. However, the firstborn of the Soviet nuclear icebreaker fleet was not threatened with oblivion. The fact is that it was put on eternal parking in Murmansk, having organized a museum on board, where you can see interesting exhibits telling about the creation of the nuclear icebreaker fleet of the USSR.
Accidents on "Lenin"
For 32 years, while the first nuclear-powered icebreaker of the USSR was in service, two accidents occurred on it. The first one happened in 1965. As a result, the reactor core was partially damaged. To eliminate the consequences of the accident, part of the fuel was placed on a floating technical base, and the rest was unloaded and placed in a container.
As for the second case, in 1967 the ship's technical staff recorded a leak in the pipeline of the third circuit of the reactor. As a result, the entire nuclear compartment of the icebreaker had to be replaced, and the damaged equipment was towed and flooded in Tsivolki Bay.
"Arctic"
Over time, for the development of the expanses of the Arctic, a single nuclear-powered icebreaker became not enough. Therefore, in 1971, the construction of the second such vessel was started. It was the "Arktika" - a nuclear-powered icebreaker, which, after the death of Leonid Brezhnev, began to bear his name. However, during the years of Perestroika, the first name was again returned to the ship, and it served under it until 2008.
The Arktika is a nuclear-powered icebreaker that became the first surface vessel to reach the North Pole. In addition, his project initially included the possibility of quickly converting the ship into an auxiliary battle cruiser capable of operating in polar conditions. This became possible largely due to the fact that the designer of the nuclear icebreaker Arktika, together with a team of engineers working on this project, provided the ship with increased power, allowing it to overcome ice up to 2.5 m thick. As for the dimensions of the ship, they are 147.9 m long and 29.9 m wide with a displacement of 23,460 tons. At the same time, at the time when the ship was in operation, the longest duration of its autonomous navigation was 7.5 months.
Icebreakers of the Arktika class
Between 1977 and 2007, five more nuclear-powered ships were built at the Leningrad (later St. Petersburg) Baltic Shipyard. All these ships were designed according to the “Arktika” type, and today two of them – “Yamal” and “50 Years of Victory” continue to pave the way for other ships in the endless ice near the North Pole of the Earth. By the way, the nuclear-powered icebreaker called "50 Years of Victory" was launched in 2007 and is the last icebreaker produced in Russia and the largest of the existing icebreakers in the world. As for the other three ships, one of them - the "Soviet Union" - is currently undergoing restoration work. It is planned to return to service in 2017. Thus, the Arktika is a nuclear-powered icebreaker, the creation of which marked the beginning of a whole era. Moreover, the design solutions used in its design are still relevant today, 43 years after its creation.
Icebreakers of the Taimyr class
In addition to nuclear-powered ships, the Soviet Union, and then Russia, needed ships with a shallower draft, which were designed to guide ships to the mouths of Siberian rivers. Nuclear icebreakers of the USSR (later Russia) of this type - "Taimyr" and "Vaigach" - were built at one of the shipyards in Helsinki (Finland). However, most of the equipment placed on them, including power plants, is of domestic production. Since these nuclear-powered ships were intended for operation mainly on rivers, their draft is 8.1 m with a displacement of 20,791 tons. At the moment, the Russian nuclear icebreakers Taimyr and Vaygach continue to work on the ship. However, they will soon need a replacement.
Icebreakers type LK-60 Ya
Ships with a capacity of 60 MW equipped with a nuclear power plant have been developed in our country since the early 2000s, taking into account the results obtained during the operation of ships of the Taimyr and Arktika types. The designers have provided the ability to change the draft of new vessels, which will allow them to work effectively both in shallow water and in deep water. In addition, the new icebreakers are capable of moving even in ice with a thickness of 2.6 to 2.9 m. A total of three such vessels are planned to be built. In 2012, the first nuclear-powered ship of this series was laid at the Baltic Shipyard, which is scheduled to be put into operation in 2018.
A new class of state-of-the-art Russian icebreakers under design
As you know, the development of the Arctic is included in the number of priority tasks facing our country. Therefore, at the moment, development is underway to create new icebreakers of the LK-110Ya class. It is assumed that these super-powerful vessels will receive all their energy from a 110 MW nuclear steam generating plant. In this case, the vessel will be powered by three four-bladed fixed-pitch engines. The main advantage that the new nuclear-powered icebreakers of Russia will have should be their increased ice-breaking capacity, which is expected to be at least 3.5 m, while for ships in operation today, this figure is no more than 2.9 m. Thus, the designers promise ensure year-round navigation in the Arctic along the Northern Sea Route.
How is the situation with nuclear icebreakers in the world
As you know, the Arctic is divided into five sectors belonging to Russia, the USA, Norway, Canada and Denmark. These countries, as well as Finland and Sweden, have the largest icebreaking fleets. And this is not surprising, since without such ships it is impossible to carry out economic and research tasks among polar ice, even despite the effects of global warming, which every year are becoming more tangible. At the same time, all currently existing nuclear icebreakers in the world belong to our country, and it is one of the leaders in the development of the expanses of the Arctic.
The world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker, named "Lenin", was launched in the northern capital 57 years ago - on December 5, 1957.
Atom box
The history of the unique ship began with the decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, which was adopted on November 20, 1953. By that day, the country's leadership had become clear that the Soviet Union needed a powerful icebreaker that would serve the Northern Sea Route, linking the west and east of the state: the waterway was covered with heavy polar ice for many months.
In the autumn of 1953, the USSR had icebreakers with a diesel power plant at its disposal. But the fuel reserves in the cars making their way through the ice were used up extremely quickly. In addition, caravans could be stuck on the road for many months, waiting for spring to free themselves from ice captivity. The country needed a ship capable of going on long raids in the Arctic.
The government decided to launch work on the creation of nuclear power plants for transport purposes and build an icebreaker, on board of which a nuclear reactor was to be placed. It was planned that the ship would cover huge distances using fuel resources that fit in a matchbox.
The ambitious task of making the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker was set before the Leningrad Admiralty Shipbuilding Plant.
"Project-92"
By 1956, the Dezhnev and Levanevsky passenger icebreaking ships had been built in Leningrad, and even the famous Yermak was repaired - it was sent to the Admiralty Shipbuilding Plant, then still called shipyard named after Andre Marty, brought in 1928. The icebreaker, made at the shipyards in Newcastle, became good for the Admiralty repairers who repaired it. study guide, which helped in the implementation of the order of the Soviet leadership.
Lenin was laid down on August 25, 1956. The rapid pace of construction of a huge icebreaker led to the fact that the ship was launched a little more than a year later.
Innovative for its time, the icebreaker meant the implementation of complex tasks to create a power plant, unusually durable housing and, most importantly, the automation of nuclear plant control. About 30 research institutes, more than 250 industrial enterprises and 60 design bureaus of the USSR. Initially, the icebreaker had the working name "Project-92", in honor of the source of nuclear energy of uranium - it is on the periodic table at number 92.
Particular attention was paid to the shape of the nose of the "Lenin". The nuclear-powered vessel was chosen for the contours, which made it possible to increase the pressure on the ice. Passability in ice when reversing and reliable protection of the propellers and rudder from ice impacts were realized by a special design of the aft end.
Of course, the innovative nuclear-powered ship, according to the plans, was not supposed to get stuck in the ice with either the bow, or the stern, or the sides. The solution to this problem, characteristic of many icebreakers of that time, was solved with the help of a special system of ballast tanks. Water was pumped from the tank of one side to the tank of the other, the ship swayed and broke the ice. In the bow and stern, such a system was repeated.
The nuclear-powered vessel was chosen for the contours, which made it possible to increase the pressure on the ice. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Engineers managed to make the ship unsinkable. The hull was divided into compartments by 11 main transverse watertight bulkheads. The icebreaker would not have sunk even if the two largest compartments were flooded.
A water-to-water type nuclear plant was installed in the central part of the icebreaker. It produced steam for four main turbine generators. They fed three propeller motors with direct current, which drove three huge propellers. The nuclear steam generating plant was built and placed on the icebreaker in such a way that the crew and the population were protected from radiation, and the environment from radioactive contamination. For this purpose, four special protective barriers were created on the possible routes for the release of radioactive substances.
The power plant "Lenin" was 44 thousand horsepower. At the same time, the nuclear-powered ship spent only 45 grams of nuclear fuel per day on the way - an amount that just fits in a matchbox. A small amount of fuel allowed the icebreaker to reach the coast of Antarctica in one flight.
The designers and builders of the legendary ship also took care of the crew members who had to carry long shifts on the Lenin. The ship housed a cinema hall, a smoking room, a library and even a piano.
The ship, ready almost a year after the start of construction, was very heavy. "Lenin" weighed 11 thousand tons. Launching it into the water was problematic. However, the engineers were able to make the right wooden structures who released the nuclear-powered ship from the shipyards.
The ship was 134 meters long, 27.6 meters wide and 16.1 meters high. The nuclear-powered ship had a displacement of 16 thousand tons, while it could reach a speed of 18 knots.
The moment of launching the icebreaker "Lenin" Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Waited for the war
After the icebreaker was launched, the installation and testing of the nuclear reactor continued for another two years. Lenin left for sea trials in September 1959 under the command of the captain of the Yermak icebreaker Pavel Ponomarev.
The leaders of the world's leading states followed the progress of the tests of the nuclear-powered ship. Fidel Castro, Harold Macmillan and Richard Nixon were on board the Lenin. There is an opinion that it was thanks to "Lenin" that the expression "peaceful atom" was fixed. The icebreaker was being built in full swing cold war and the race for technological superiority, but for peaceful purposes. However, NATO did not fully consider the ship to be peaceful, therefore, just in case, they closely followed its tests.
In December 1959, the icebreaker was handed over to the Ministry navy, and in 1960 he became part of the Murmansk Shipping Company. The innovative power plant allowed Lenin to easily pass the ice. The nuclear-powered ship was able to extend the navigation period.
Postage stamp of Russia. year 2009. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
A year later, Boris Sokolov, who since 1959 was Ponomarev's understudy on the captain's bridge, becomes the captain of Lenin. Behind him was practice on the icebreakers Ilya Muromets and Vyacheslav Molotov, as well as participation in the fourth Soviet Antarctic expedition.
Under the leadership of Boris Sokolov in 1961, the crew of the nuclear-powered ship was able to pass to the area heavy ice in the Chukchi Sea. Photo: "Heroes of the country"
Under his leadership, in 1961, the crew of the nuclear-powered ship was able to go to the area of heavy ice in the Chukchi Sea, delivering an expedition to the ice floe, which built the drifting polar station "North Pole-10". Also, thanks to the icebreaker, it was possible to arrange 16 drifting automatic radio stations. Sokolov and his team in 1970 completed an experimental flight and the first extended Arctic navigation to remove Norilsk ore from the port of Dudinka. A year later, "Lenin" was the first of the surface ships to pass north of Severnaya Zemlya. Five years later, Lenin will steer the Pavel Ponomarev diesel-electric ship to the Yamal Peninsula, after which flights there will become regular.
For the entire period of operation, Lenin covered 654 thousand nautical miles, of which 563.6 thousand miles were in ice. The nuclear-powered ship, according to the most widespread data, passed 3741 ships through the ice.
Became a museum
Icebreaker "Lenin" in 1989, after 30 years of service, was decommissioned. For the ship, however, had to be fought. The nuclear-powered ship could have been destroyed, but they decided to make a museum on it. "Lenin" stood on the eternal parking lot in Murmansk, becoming a real symbol of the city.
The captain of the icebreaker Boris Sokolov, who made a lot of effort to prevent the nuclear-powered ship from being destroyed, lived in Murmansk until the end of his life. A memorial plaque was hung on the house where he lived after his death. Sokolov was buried at the Serafimovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg - the city where the icebreaker was born, which he operated for almost 30 years.
The only country in the world that has a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is Russia. Back in the days of the Soviet Union, the relevance of building this fleet was realized, since at that time the development of the regions of the Far North was proceeding at an active pace. To conduct escort in the Arctic, sailors needed icebreakers capable of autonomous navigation along the Northern Sea Route for many months.
nuclear icebreaker is a nuclear-powered ship built specifically for use in ice-covered waters throughout the year. Thanks to the nuclear installation, they are much more powerful than diesel ones and it is easier for them to conquer frozen bodies of water. Unlike other ships, icebreakers have a clear advantage - they do not need to refuel, which is especially important when on the ice, where there is no way to get fuel.
A bit of history:
November 20, 1953 The Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution on the construction of a nuclear icebreaker "Lenin"- the world's first ship with a nuclear power plant.
Fuel supply of diesel icebreakers of the mid-20th century model. amounted to a third of the mass of the ship. But even this amount of fuel was enough for a maximum of a month of travel, which was not enough for northern navigation. It happened that a caravan of ships hibernated, worn out in the ice, due to the fact that the icebreaker was running out of fuel. Therefore, a ship was required that could accompany the caravans of ships for a longer time. Thus, the icebreaker was designed and built to serve the Northern Sea Route. A powerful power plant and high autonomy made it possible to significantly increase the period of northern navigation.
The project was developed by the Iceberg Central Design Bureau. V. I. Neganov was the chief designer, I. I. Afrikantov, the project manager of the nuclear power plant, and V. I. Chervyakov, the chief builder.
December 5, 1957 year, the icebreaker hull was launched into the water. In September 1959 sea trials began in the Gulf of Finland.
December 3, 1959 In the 1990s, the tests of the atomic icebreaker Lenin were successfully completed, and the state flag of the USSR was raised on it. This date was the birthday of the Soviet icebreaker fleet.
Icebreaker "Lenin" worked for 30 years, 5 years more than the design life. In 1989, he was withdrawn from the fleet. The vessel traveled 654.4 thousand nautical miles, of which 563.6 thousand were in ice (30 earth's equators), that is, on average, in one year, the icebreaker laid a route along the northern seas with a length of one round-the-world trip. During its service, the icebreaker "Lenin" passed through the ice of the Arctic 3 thousand 741 transport ships.
The development of the nuclear icebreaker fleet kept pace with the domestic nuclear power industry.
For the period 1959–1991 gg. in the USSR, 7 nuclear icebreakers and 1 nuclear lighter carrier - a container carrier were built: "Lenin" (1959), "Arctic"(1982-1986 "Leonid Brezhnev") (1975), "Siberia" (1977), "Russia" (1985), "Sevmorput" (1988), "Taimyr" (1989), "Soviet Union" (1990), "Vaigach" (1990).
And already in Russia for the period from 1991 to 2007 2 more nuclear icebreakers were built: "Yamal"(1993) and "50 Years of Victory" (2007).
For 2016, 5 out of 10 nuclear icebreakers existing in the world are in service. Almost all of these ships were built at the Admiralty shipyards and Baltic Shipyard in Leningrad. Two icebreakers - "Vaigach" and "Taimyr" - were built at the Wärtsilä shipyard in Finland and then transported to Leningrad for the installation of nuclear power units. Lighter carrier "Sevmorput" was built at the Kerch plant "Zaliv".
Now on 2016, the nuclear icebreaker fleet of the Russian Federation includes:
2 nuclear icebreakers with a two-reactor nuclear power plant with a capacity of 75 thousand hp - "Yamal" and "50 Years of Victory";
Icebreakers are specially painted dark red so that they can be clearly seen in white ice.
2 icebreakers with a single-reactor plant with a capacity of about 50 thousand hp - "Taimyr" and "Vaigach";
1 nuclear-powered container carrier "Sevmorput" with a reactor plant with a capacity of 40 thousand hp;
5 service vessels - icebreaker "Soviet Union"(is in operational reserve).
(Note: data from the Federal State unitary enterprise Atomflot.
I understand that this is all a large-scale repetition of a huge number of photographs of people who visited the ship on excursions, especially since they drive to the same places. But it was interesting for me to figure it out myself.
This is our nuclear-powered guide:
It was about creating a ship that can sail for a very long time without calling at ports for fuel.
Scientists have calculated that an atomic icebreaker will consume 45 grams of nuclear fuel per day - as much as will fit in matchbox. That is why the nuclear-powered ship, having a practically unlimited navigation area, will be able to visit both the Arctic and off the coast of Antarctica in one voyage. For a ship with a nuclear power plant, the distance is not an obstacle.
Initially, we were gathered in this hall for a brief introduction to the tour and divided into two groups.
The Admiralty had considerable experience in the repair and construction of icebreakers. Back in 1928, they overhauled the "grandfather of the icebreaker fleet" - the famous "Ermak".
The construction of icebreakers and icebreaking transport vessels at the plant was associated with a new stage in the development of Soviet shipbuilding - the use of electric welding instead of riveting. The plant staff was one of the initiators of this innovation. New method successfully tested on the construction of icebreakers of the Sedov type. Icebreakers "Okhotsk", "Murman", "Ocean", in the construction of which electric welding was widely used, showed excellent performance; their hull proved to be more durable than other vessels.
Before the Great Patriotic War A large icebreaking and transport vessel "Semyon Dezhnev" was built at the plant, which immediately after sea trials headed for the Arctic to withdraw caravans that had wintered there. Following the "Semyon Dezhnev", the icebreaking transport vessel "Levanevsky" was launched. After the war, the plant built another icebreaker and several self-propelled icebreaker-type ferries.
A large scientific team headed by the outstanding Soviet physicist Academician A.P. Aleksandrov worked on the project. Such prominent specialists as I. I. Afrikantov, A. I. Brandaus, G. A. Gladkov, B. Ya. Gnesin, V. I. Neganov, N. S. Khlopkin, A. N. Stefanovich and Other.
We rise to the floor above
The dimensions of the nuclear-powered ship were chosen taking into account the requirements for the operation of icebreakers in the North and ensuring its best seaworthiness: the length of the icebreaker is 134 m, the width is 27.6 m, the shaft power is 44,000 liters. s., displacement 16,000 tons, speed 18 knots in clear water and 2 knots in ice more than 2 m thick.
Long corridors
The designed power of the turboelectric plant is unparalleled. The nuclear-powered icebreaker is twice as powerful as the American icebreaker "Gletcher", which was considered the largest in the world.
When designing the ship's hull, special attention was paid to the shape of the bow, on which the icebreaking qualities of the vessel largely depend. The contours chosen for the nuclear-powered ship, in comparison with existing icebreakers, allow increasing the pressure on the ice. The aft end is designed in such a way that it provides flotation in ice during reverse gear and reliable protection of propellers and rudder from ice impacts.
Canteen:
And the caboose? This is a fully electrified plant with its own bakery, hot food is served by an electric elevator from the kitchen to the dining rooms.
In practice, it was observed that icebreakers sometimes got stuck in the ice not only with their bow or stern, but also with their sides. To avoid this, it was decided to arrange special systems of ballast tanks on the nuclear-powered ship. If water is pumped from the tank of one side to the tank of the other side, then the ship, swaying from side to side, will break and push the ice apart with its sides. The same system of tanks is installed in the bow and stern. And if the icebreaker does not break the ice on the move and its nose gets stuck? Then you can pump water from the stern trim tank to the bow. The pressure on the ice will increase, it will break, and the icebreaker will come out of the ice captivity.
In order to ensure the unsinkability of such a large vessel, if the skin is damaged, it was decided to subdivide the hull into compartments by eleven main transverse watertight bulkheads. When calculating the nuclear icebreaker, the designers ensured the unsinkability of the vessel when the two largest compartments were flooded.
The team of builders of the polar giant was headed by a talented engineer V. I. Chervyakov.
In July 1956, the first section of the nuclear icebreaker's hull was laid down.
To lay out the theoretical drawing of the building on the plaza, a huge area was required - about 2500 square meters. Instead, the breakdown was made on a special shield using a special tool. This allowed to reduce the area for marking. Then template drawings were made, which were photographed on photographic plates. The projection apparatus, in which the negative was placed, reproduced the light contour of the part on the metal. The photo-optical method of marking made it possible to reduce the labor intensity of plaza and marking work by 40%.
Getting into the engine room
The nuclear-powered icebreaker, as the most powerful vessel in the entire icebreaking fleet, is designed to deal with ice in the most difficult conditions; therefore, its body must be especially strong. It was decided to ensure the high strength of the hull using steel of a new brand. This steel has high impact strength. It welds well and has great resistance to crack propagation at low temperatures.
The design of the hull of the nuclear-powered ship, the system of its set also differed from other icebreakers. The bottom, sides, inner decks, platforms and the upper deck at the extremities were recruited according to the transverse framing system, and the upper deck in the middle part of the icebreaker - along the longitudinal system.
The building, as high as a good five-story house, consisted of sections weighing up to 75 tons. There were about two hundred such large sections.
The assembly and welding of such sections was carried out by the pre-assembly section of the hull shop.
It is interesting to note that the nuclear-powered ship has two power plants capable of providing energy to a city with a population of 300,000. The ship does not need any machinists or stokers: all the work of power plants is automated.
It should be said about the latest propeller motors. These are unique machines made in the USSR for the first time, especially for the nuclear-powered ship. The numbers speak for themselves: the weight of an average engine is 185 tons, the power is almost 20,000 hp. With. The engine had to be delivered to the icebreaker disassembled, in parts. Loading the engine onto the ship presented great difficulties.
They also love cleanliness.
From the pre-assembly section, the finished sections were delivered directly to the slipway. Assemblers and checkers installed them without delay.
During the manufacture of units for the first experimental standard sections, it turned out that the steel sheets from which they should be made weigh 7 tons, and the cranes available at the procurement site had a lifting capacity of only up to 6 tons.
The presses were also underpowered.
One more instructive example of the close community of workers, engineers and scientists should be mentioned.
According to the approved design technology from of stainless steel welded by hand. More than 200 experiments have been carried out; finally, the welding modes were worked out. Five automatic welders replaced 20 manual welders who were transferred to work in other areas.
There was, for example, such a case. Due to the very large dimensions, it was impossible to deliver by railway to the plant fore and sternpost - the main structures of the bow and stern of the vessel. Massive, heavy, weighing 30 and 80 g, they did not fit on any railway platforms. Engineers and workers decided to make the stems directly at the factory by welding their individual parts.
To imagine the complexity of assembling and welding the mounting joints of these stems, suffice it to say that the minimum thickness of the welded parts reached 150 mm. Welding of the stem continued for 15 days in 3 shifts.
While the building was being erected on the slipway, parts, pipelines, and devices were manufactured and assembled in various workshops of the plant. Many of them came from other companies. The main turbogenerators were built at the Kharkov Electromechanical Plant, propeller motors - at the Leningrad Electrosila Plant named after S. M. Kirov. Such electric motors were created in the USSR for the first time.
In the workshops of the Kirov Plant they gathered steam turbines.
The use of new materials required a change in many of the established technological processes. Pipelines were mounted on the nuclear-powered ship, which were previously connected by soldering.
In collaboration with the specialists of the welding bureau of the plant, the workers of the assembly shop developed and introduced electric arc welding of pipes.
The nuclear-powered ship required several thousand pipes of various lengths and diameters. Experts have calculated that if the pipes are pulled out in one line, their length will be 75 kilometers.
Finally, the time arrived for the completion of the slipway work.
Before the descent, one difficulty arose, then another.
So, it was not easy to install a heavy rudder blade. Putting it in place in the usual way did not allow the complex design of the aft end of the nuclear-powered ship. In addition, by the time the huge part was installed, the upper deck had already been closed. Under these conditions, it was impossible to take risks. We decided to hold a "general rehearsal" - first we put not a real baller, but its "double" - a wooden model of the same dimensions. The "rehearsal" was a success, the calculations were confirmed. Soon, the multi-ton part was quickly brought into place.
The descent of the icebreaker into the water was just around the corner. The large launch weight of the vessel (11,000 tons) made it difficult to design a launching device, although specialists have been engaged in this device almost from the moment the first sections were laid on the slipway.
According to calculations design organization, in order to launch the icebreaker "Lenin" into the water, it was necessary to lengthen the underwater part of the launch tracks and deepen the bottom behind the slipway pit.
A group of employees of the design bureau of the plant and the hull shop developed a more advanced trigger device compared to the original project.
For the first time in the practice of domestic shipbuilding, a spherical wooden rotary device and a number of other new design solutions were used.
To reduce the launch weight, ensure greater stability when launching and braking a vessel that has descended from the slipway into the water, special pontoons were brought under the stern and bow.
The icebreaker's hull was freed from scaffolding. Surrounded by portal cranes, sparkling with fresh paint, he was ready to set off on his first short journey - to the water surface of the Neva.
Move on
We're going down
. . . PJ. To an uninitiated person, these three letters do not say anything. PEV - post of energy and survivability - the brain of icebreaker control. From here, with the help of automatic devices, operating engineers - people of a new profession in the fleet - can remotely control the operation of the steam generator unit. From here, the necessary mode of operation of the "heart" of the nuclear-powered ship - the reactors - is maintained.
Experienced sailors, who have been sailing on ships of various types for many years, are surprised: PEJ specialists wear snow-white bathrobes over the usual marine uniform.
The post of energy and survivability, as well as the wheelhouse and crew cabins are located in the central superstructure.
And now on to the story:
December 5, 1957 In the morning it was continuously drizzling, with occasional sleet falling. A sharp, gusty wind blew from the bay. But people did not seem to notice the gloomy Leningrad weather. Long before the icebreaker was launched, the platforms around the slipway were filled with people. Many boarded a tanker under construction next door.
Exactly at noon, the nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" anchored in the very place where on the memorable night of October 25, 1917, the "Aurora" - the legendary ship of the October Revolution - stood.
The construction of the nuclear-powered ship entered new period-began its completion afloat.
The nuclear power plant is the most important section of the icebreaker. The most prominent scientists worked on the design of the reactor. Each of the three reactors is almost 3.5 times more powerful than the reactor of the first in the world nuclear power plant Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
OK-150 "Lenin" (until 1966)
Rated power of the reactor, VMT 3х90
Rated steam capacity, t/h 3х120
Power on propellers, l/s 44,000
The layout of all installations - block. Each block includes a pressurized water reactor (i.e. water is both a coolant and a neutron moderator), four circulation pumps and four steam generators, volume compensators, an ion exchange filter with a cooler, and other equipment.
The reactor, pumps and steam generators have separate casings and are connected to each other by short pipes of the "pipe in pipe" type. All equipment is located vertically in the caissons of the iron-water protection tank and is closed with small-sized protection blocks, which ensures easy accessibility during repair work.
A nuclear reactor is a technical installation in which a controlled chain reaction of nuclear fission is carried out. heavy elements with the release of nuclear energy. The reactor consists of an active zone and a reflector. Pressurized water reactor - water in it is also a moderator fast neutrons and cooling and heat exchange medium The core contains nuclear fuel in protective coating(fuel elements - TVELs) and moderator. The fuel rods, which look like thin rods, are assembled into bundles and enclosed in covers. Such structures are called fuel assemblies of fuel assemblies.
The fuel rods, which look like thin rods, are assembled into bundles and enclosed in covers. Such structures are called fuel assemblies (FA). The reactor core is a set of active parts of fresh fuel assemblies (SFA), which in turn consist of fuel elements (TVEL). 241 STVs are placed in the reactor. The resource of the modern core (2.1-2.3 million MWh) provides the energy needs of the ship with nuclear power plants for 5-6 years. After the energy resource of the core is exhausted, the reactor is recharged.
The reactor vessel with an elliptical bottom is made of low-alloy heat-resistant steel with anti-corrosion hardfacing on the inner surfaces.
The principle of operation of APPU
The thermal scheme of the PPU of a nuclear vessel consists of 4 circuits.
The coolant of the first circuit (highly purified water) is pumped through the reactor core. Water is heated to 317 degrees, but does not turn into steam, because it is under pressure. From the reactor, the coolant of the 1st circuit enters the steam generator, washing the pipes, inside which the water of the 2nd circuit flows, turning into superheated steam. Further, the coolant of the first circuit is again fed into the reactor by the circulation pump.
From the steam generator, superheated steam (coolant of the second circuit) enters the main turbines. Steam parameters before the turbine: pressure - 30 kgf/cm2 (2.9 MPa), temperature - 300 °C. Then the steam condenses, the water passes through the ion-exchange purification system and enters the steam generator again.
The third circuit is designed to cool the APPU equipment, water is used as a heat carrier high purity(distillate). The coolant of the III circuit has a slight radioactivity.
The IV circuit serves to cool the water in the III circuit system, sea water is used as a heat carrier. Also, the IV circuit is used to cool the steam of the II circuit during distributing and cooling down the installation.
The APPU is designed and placed on the ship in such a way as to ensure the protection of the crew and the public from exposure, and the environment - from contamination with radioactive substances within the permissible safe limits both during normal operation and in case of accidents of the installation and the ship at the expense. For this purpose, four protective barriers between nuclear fuel and the environment have been created along the possible exit routes of radioactive substances:
the first - shells of the fuel elements of the reactor core;
the second - strong walls of the equipment and pipelines of the primary circuit;
the third is the containment of the reactor plant;
the fourth is a protective fence, the boundaries of which are the longitudinal and transverse bulkheads, the second bottom and the upper deck flooring in the area of the reactor compartment.
Everyone wanted to feel like a little hero :-)))
In 1966, two OK-900s were installed instead of three OK-150s.
OK-900 “Lenin”
Rated power of the reactor, VMT 2x159
Rated steam capacity, t/h 2x220
Power on propellers, l/s 44000
Room in front of the reactor compartment
Windows in the reactor compartment
In February 1965, an accident occurred during scheduled repairs at reactor No. 2 of the Lenin nuclear icebreaker. As a result of operator error, the core was left without water for some time, which caused partial damage to approximately 60% of the fuel assemblies.
With channel-by-channel reloading, only 94 of them were unloaded from the core, the remaining 125 turned out to be unrecoverable. This part was unloaded along with the screen assembly and placed in a special container, which was filled with a hardening mixture based on futurol and then stored onshore for about 2 years.
In August 1967, the reactor compartment with the OK-150 nuclear power plant and its own sealed bulkheads was flooded directly from the Lenin icebreaker through the bottom in the shallow Tsivolki Bay in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago at a depth of 40-50 m.
Before the flooding, nuclear fuel was unloaded from the reactors, and their first circuits were washed, drained and sealed. According to the Iceberg Central Design Bureau, the reactors were filled with a hardening mixture based on futurol before being flooded.
A container with 125 spent fuel assemblies filled with Futurol was moved from the shore, placed inside a special pontoon and flooded. By the time of the accident, the ship's nuclear power plant had operated for about 25,000 hours.
After that, ok-150 and were replaced by ok-900
Once again about the principles of work:
How does an icebreaker's nuclear power plant work?
In the reactor, uranium rods are placed in a special order. The system of uranium rods is penetrated by a swarm of neutrons, a kind of "fuse", causing the decay of uranium atoms with the release of a huge amount of thermal energy. The rapid motion of neutrons is tamed by the moderator. Myriads of controlled atomic explosions, caused by a stream of neutrons, occur in the thickness of uranium rods. As a result, a so-called chain reaction is formed.
bw photos are not mine
Peculiarity nuclear reactors icebreaker is that not graphite is used as a neutron moderator, as at the first Soviet nuclear power plant, but distilled water. The uranium rods placed in the reactor are surrounded by the purest water (twice distilled). If you fill a bottle with it to the neck, then it will be absolutely impossible to notice whether water is poured into the bottle or not: the water is so transparent!
In the reactor, water is heated above the melting point of lead - more than 300 degrees. Water at this temperature does not boil because it is under a pressure of 100 atmospheres.
The water in the reactor is radioactive. With the help of pumps, it is driven through a special apparatus-steam generator, where it turns non-radioactive water into steam with its heat. The steam enters a turbine that drives a DC generator. The generator supplies current to the propulsion motors. The exhaust steam is sent to the condenser, where it turns back into water, which is again pumped into the steam generator by a pump. Thus, in a system of complex mechanisms, a kind of water cycle occurs.
B&W photos taken by me from the Internet
The reactors are installed in special metal drums welded into a stainless steel tank. From above, the reactors are closed with lids, under which there are various devices for automatically lifting and moving uranium rods. The entire operation of the reactor is controlled by instruments, and if necessary, "mechanical arms"-manipulators come into action, which can be controlled from afar, being outside the compartment.
The reactor can be viewed on TV at any time.
Everything that poses a danger with its radioactivity is carefully isolated and located in a special compartment.
The drainage system diverts dangerous liquids to a special tank. There is also a system for trapping air with traces of radioactivity. The air flow from the central compartment is thrown through the main mast to a height of 20 m.
In all corners of the ship, you can see special dosimeters, ready at any time to notify of increased radioactivity. In addition, each crew member is equipped with an individual pocket-type dosimeter. The safe operation of the icebreaker is fully ensured.
The designers of the nuclear-powered ship provided for all sorts of accidents. If one reactor fails, another one will replace it. The same work on the ship can be performed by several groups of identical mechanisms.
This is the basic principle of operation of the entire system of a nuclear power plant.
In the compartment where the reactors are placed, there is great amount pipes of complex configurations and large sizes. The pipes had to be connected not as usual, with the help of flanges, but butt-welded with an accuracy of one millimeter.
Simultaneously with the installation of nuclear reactors, the main mechanisms of the engine room were installed at a rapid pace. Steam turbines were mounted here, rotating generators,
on an icebreaker; there are more than five hundred electric motors of different power on the nuclear-powered ship alone!
Corridor in front of the medical center
While the installation of power systems was underway, engineers worked on how to better and faster mount and put into operation the ship's machinery control system.
All management of the complex economy of the icebreaker is carried out automatically, directly from the wheelhouse. From here, the captain can change the operating mode of the propeller engines.
Actually first-aid post: Medical offices - therapeutic, dental X-ray, physiotherapy, operating room? procedures: yuya as well as a laboratory and a pharmacy are equipped with the latest medical and preventive equipment.
Work related to the assembly and installation of the ship's superstructure It was not an easy task: to assemble a huge superstructure weighing about 750 tons. A boat with a water jet, main and foremasts were also built for the icebreaker in the workshop.
The four superstructure blocks assembled in the shop were delivered to the icebreaker and installed here by a floating crane.
The icebreaker had to perform a huge amount of insulation work. The area of isolation was about 30,000 m2. New materials were used to isolate the premises. Monthly presented for acceptance of 100-120 rooms.
Mooring trials are the third stage (after the slipway period and completion afloat) of the construction of each vessel.
Prior to the launch of the steam generator plant of the icebreaker, steam had to be supplied from the shore. The device of the steam pipeline was complicated by the lack of special flexible hoses of large cross section. It was not possible to use a steam pipeline from ordinary metal pipes, tightly fixed. Then, at the suggestion of a group of innovators, a special hinged device was used, which ensured a reliable supply of steam through the steam line to the nuclear-powered ship.
The electric fire pumps were launched and tested first, and then the entire fire system. Then, tests of the auxiliary boiler plant began.
The engine started up. The instrument needles flickered. One minute, five, ten. . . The engine works great! And after a while, the installers began to adjust the devices that control the temperature of water and oil.
When testing auxiliary turbogenerators and diesel generators, special devices were needed to allow loading two parallel turbogenerators.
How was the test of turbogenerators?
The main difficulty was that during the work the voltage regulators had to be replaced with new, more advanced ones, which provide automatic voltage maintenance even under conditions of high overload.
Mooring tests continued. In January 1959, turbogenerators with all the mechanisms and automatic machines serving them were adjusted and tested. Simultaneously with the testing of auxiliary turbogenerators, electric pumps, ventilation systems and other equipment were tested.
While the mechanisms were being tested, other work was carried out at full speed.
Successfully fulfilling their obligations, the Admiralty in April completed the testing of all the main turbogenerators and propulsion motors. The test results were excellent. All calculated data made by scientists, designers, designers were confirmed. The first stage of testing the nuclear-powered ship was completed. And finished successfully!
April 1959
The installers of the hold department entered the case.
The Lenin icebreaker, the firstborn of the Soviet nuclear fleet, is a ship perfectly equipped with all means of modern radio communication, location installations, and the latest navigation equipment. The icebreaker is equipped with two radars - short-range and long-range. The first is designed to solve operational navigation problems, the second - to monitor the environment and the helicopter. In addition, it must duplicate the short-range locator in conditions of snowfall or rain.
The equipment located in the bow and stern radio rooms will ensure reliable communication with the shore, with other ships and aircraft. Internal communication is carried out by an automatic telephone exchange with 100 numbers, separate telephones in various rooms, as well as a powerful general ship radio broadcasting network.
Work on the installation and adjustment of communication facilities was carried out by special teams of installers.
Responsible work was carried out by electricians to put into operation electrical and radio equipment and various devices in the wheelhouse.
The nuclear-powered ship will be able to sail for a long time without calling at ports. So it is very important where and how the crew will live. That's why when creating an icebreaker project Special attention was given to the living conditions of the team.
More living rooms
. .. Long bright corridors. Along them are sailor cabins, mostly single, less often for two people. During the day, one of the beds is removed into a niche, the other turns into a sofa. In the cabin, opposite the sofa, there is a desk and a swivel chair. Above the table is a clock and a shelf for books. Nearby are wardrobes for clothes and personal belongings.
In a small entrance vestibule there is another closet - especially for outerwear. A mirror is fixed above a small faience washbasin. Hot and cold water in the taps - around the clock. In short, a cozy modern small-sized apartment.
All rooms have fluorescent lighting. The electrical wiring is hidden under the lining, it is not visible. Milky glass screens cover fluorescent lamps from harsh direct rays. Each bed has a small lamp that gives a soft pink light. After labor day, having come to his cozy cabin, the sailor will be able to have a great rest, read, listen to the radio, music ...
There are also household workshops on the icebreaker - a shoemaker's and a tailor's workshop; there is a hairdressing salon, a mechanical laundry baths, showers.
We return to the central staircase
We go up to the captain's cabin
More than one and a half thousand wardrobes, armchairs, sofas, shelves took their places in the cabins and office space. True, all this was made not only by the woodworkers of the Admiralty plant, but also by the workers of the furniture factory No. 3, the plant named after A. Zhdanov, and the Intourist factory. The Admiralty also made 60 separate sets of furniture, as well as various wardrobes, beds, tables, hanging cabinets and bedside tables - beautiful solid furniture.
