OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2010. Moscow design-work branch of the VVER Design Centre, established on the basis of Atomenergoproekt OJSC as a separate company subdivision, will carry out a standard project of optimized and computerized power unit of high-capacity nuclear power plant based on the VVER technologies.

"The VVER-TOI standard project will help to lower the costs of design, construction, operation, service and decommissioning of power units with VVER reactors”, informs Atomenergoproekt OJCS, “Furthermore, the VEER-TOI project implementation will increase the competitive power of Russian developments in the external market and improve the process of NPP construction in Russia.” The objective to optimize the operational performance of VVER reactors was set following the results of the Commission on Modernization and Technical Development of Russian Economy under RF President of in July, 2009. According to Primary Deputy General Director and Director of Project Design of Atomenergoproekt OJCS Ilya Kopytov the VVER-TOI project shall not be referred to as a new one. “This project is a continuation of the head NPP-2006 project, which is now being implemented in Russia,” he explained. There is a considerable project stock, but at the same time there is an opportunity to perform the optimization of economical and functional characteristics by means of improving of design solutions which do not require significant volumes of research-and-development activities.

The project does not require considerable changes of the VVER technology. Technical optimization will be reduced to a rational minimum of “point” solutions which help to reach the maximum economic benefit. Today the VVER Design Centre cabinetry works have been completed, 40 specialists are working in the centre. Till the end of the year the number of specialists will increase up to 110 persons. Both Atomenergoproekt OJSC specialists and representatives of other industry enterprises will be involved in the project design. The Design Centre is equipped with modern design and construction tools. Within the VVER-TOI project a 3D-project of a nuclear island and power unit as well as the estimate safety cases will be provided. The project will be implemented in 2012.