In Russia, Robots Take Over Hazardous Turbine Cleaning at Nuclear Power Plant

At the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, robots are stepping into one of the most dangerous maintenance jobs — cleaning turbine condensers — boosting both safety and efficiency.

Robots have taken on one of the most grueling and risky maintenance tasks in Russia’s nuclear energy sector: cleaning turbine condensers. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the city of Kurchatov, is the first in the country to deploy hydro-dynamic cleaning robots for the job — a system that uses high-pressure water to scrub heat-exchanger tubes.

The results have been striking. The machines proved they could deliver thorough cleaning while reaching areas inaccessible to human workers. Still, the process is far from fully automated. Human operators place the robots inside the water chamber of the condenser, aim them at a specific cluster of tubes, and only then switch on the automatic mode.

Once engaged, the robot moves along a track, locks onto the tubes, and blasts them clean with pressurized water. After finishing one section, it shifts to the next. This year alone, the Kursk plant’s robots cleaned 19,146 tubes — nearly 20 times more than the previous year, setting a new record. The boost in speed and quality directly impacts the plant’s operational efficiency and shortens repair times.

The experiment highlights how robotics could redefine nuclear plant maintenance. At Kursk, the technology has not only accelerated repairs but also significantly reduced risks to personnel. If the trend continues, such solutions could become standard in nuclear facilities across Russia and in other countries seeking safer, more reliable plant operations.