Water-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor (RBMK)

Water-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor (RBMK) (Реактор Большой Мощности Канальный – High power channel reactor in Russian)

Water-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor (RBMK) (Реактор Большой Мощности Канальный – High power channel reactor in Russian)
For moderator in this type of reactors is used graphite and for coolant – light water. The fuel is low enriched uranium compound, situated in channels in graphite blocks. Circulation pumps drive the water trough the channels it heats up and starts to boil and the steam-water mixture leaves the reactor core with a temperature of about 290 °C. From the reactor it is directed to the separators (a device that separates the steam from the water) and then to the turbine, which drives the generator for electricity production. The coolant is then pumped back to the reactor.

After the Chernobyl accident, a number of measures have been taken to enhance the safety of the RBMK reactors, which are still in operation. The only country besides the Russian federation that owns RBMK reactors is Lithuania. There are two reactors, one of them is shut down and the other is going to be in operation till 2009.