VVER

VVER (Voda-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reaktor = Pressurized water reactor) is the Soviet (and now, Russian Federation) designation for light water pressurized reactor. In western countries, the PWR is used as the acronym. For the general public, the perception may be that all Soviet-designed reactors are identical to (or at least similar to) the reactors at Chernobyl. The Chernobyl reactor, however, is a light-water cooled, graphite-moderated reactor (LGR). It is considered by many experts to be a flawed design that is vulnerable to fire. Around the time LGRs were coming on line in the Soviet Union, early VVERs were also coming on line, many with safety innovations based on western designs.

The international community has encouraged the shutdown of various LGRs, but the need for electric power and the employment the power plants provide have made this a lengthy process. After unit 4 was destroyed by fire at Chernobyl, the other 3 units were returned to service and one continued to operate into the 21^st century. Recently, Lithuania agreed to shut down its two LGR units at Ignalina. The units provide nearly 80 percent of the country’s electricity, making this a very difficult economic decision.

The Russian Federation continues to build VVER units. While any Russian-built unit may suffer from the image of the disaster to Chernobyl 4, the new units conform to international standards and have developed an export market. More information on the safety and characteristics of VVER and other Russian models is available on another web site.