RPV welded for Unit-1 of Rooppur power plant
The process lasted for 10 days with continuous heating of the weld zone at 150 to 300 degree Celsius
Finishing weld, connecting the two halves of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) for Unit-1 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, has been completed by AEM Technology in Volgodonsk in Russia, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
It is the key stage in the manufacturing process of RPV. AEM Technology is a part of Atomenergomash, the engineering division of Russia's state atomic energy corporation Rosatom.
"The process lasted for 10 days with continuous heating of the weld zone at 150 to 300 degree Celsius and required about two tons of flux and more than one and a half tons of wire of 4 mm diameter."
"Following completion of welding, the reactor pressure vessel, weighing 320 tons, was heated at 300 degrees Celsius for two days in furnace. In the next stage specialists are out a whole range of tests in the weld zones including radiographic, ultrasound and penetration tests.
In parallel with the manufacture of reactor pressure vessel, the plant is manufacturing its internals, reactor cover and the upper unit as well.
As of today, the vessel of the Reactor Core Barrel has been manufactured; baffle and a protective tube unit are at final stage of manufacturing," the press release adds.
The reactor is a vertical cylindrical vessel with an elliptical bottom. The core and the internals are located inside the vessel. From above, the reactor is hermetically sealed by a cover with the drives of mechanisms and elements for regulating and protecting the reactor, and nozzles for passage of cables of the in-core monitoring sensors installed on it, says the press release.
Atomenergomash is a single source supplier of all equipment of the reactor compartment of the Rooppur NPP and a significant part of the equipment for the turbine island. Different division of the company manufacture Reactors, Steam Generators, Pumping and Heat Exchange Equipment.
Rooppur NPP is designed and constructed according to the Russian design. The plant will consist of two power units each with a capacity of 1200 MW, and equipped with generation 3+. VVER-1200 reactor, the press release concludes.
