20 years of experience with closed cycle vapor turbogenerators in extreme Arctic environment in Russia

One of the most severe problems confronting telecommunication projects in extreme Arctic environment conditions, with temperatures as low as -60°C, is the supply of continuous, reliable remote power for unattended microwave repeater stations that in many cases cannot be reached by maintenance technicians for months at a time. Another important problem in such projects is that the telecommunications equipment must be kept at temperatures between 0°C and +45°C in order to ensure correct electronics operation. The use of specially designed, Arctic type, closed cycle vapor turbogenerators (CCVTs) and their associated nonelectric heating systems in Arctic telecommunication systems has solved both problems: reliable remote power in the range of 400 to 2000 Watts is provided and required temperature ranges in equipment shelters are maintained, assuring correct operation of sensitive electronics. The paper which follows describes the experience accumulated over the last 20 years in projects using CCVT´s and associated heating systems in Russia