The margin to critical level of heat exchange of thermal power and coolant temperature at the core exit as well as the nonuniformities of the energy release under the operating conditions of a nuclear power plant with VVER-1000 above nominal power is analyzed for the No. 2 unit of the Balakovo nuclear power plant. It is confirmed that the safety criteria comply with OPB-88/97. The content of each of the three main stages of operation is presented. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made concerning updating the technical design of the reactor facility in order to increase the power level.The operating power-generating units of nuclear power plants with VVER-1000 reactors are designed with a conservative margin of stability and their nominal power can be increased [1][2][3][4]. The developers of the V-320 design of the reactor facility performed, together with specialists at the Balakovo nuclear power plant, a large volume of calculations with the objective of updating the technical design of the No. 2 power-generating unit of the Balakovo nuclear power plant, validating safe operation at 3120 MW(t), and confirming safety in compliance with OPB-88/97. The analysis and calculations were performed on the basis of the initial design characteristics and actual data from the Balakovo nuclear power plant.The following are the most important work done to validate the operational safety of the No. 2 unit of the Balakovo nuclear power plant with a VVER-1000 reactor operating above nominal power:• calculations of the neutron-physical characteristics of the 16-18th fuel loads;• confirmation of the reliability of the cooling of the fuel elements and the safety criteria for the core in stationary regimes with four, three, and two main circulation pumps operating; • establishment of compliance with the normative requirements for radionuclide emission under fuel-element cladding and into the first-loop coolant;
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