Petrozavodsk Branch of JSC “AEM-Technology” (part of Atomenergomash, the machine-building division of the Rosatom State Corporation, and a member of Karelian Regional Wing of the Russian Engineering Union) manufactured and shipped a set of housings for reactor coolant pump sets (RCPS) for unit 1 of the country’s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna district, Rosatom official said.
Rooppur nuclear power plant is being implemented by Rosatom. The main construction work of the power plant is continuing at Rooppur in Pabna district while its essential machineries are being made in Russia.
It is a top priority project on the Bangladesh government’s agenda, all the way up to the Prime Minister’s Office. The project will host two units, each with the latest generation 3+ VVER 1200 reactor. Total capacity of the plant is estimated to be 2,400 MW.
According to Rosatom, weight of one casing is more than 31 tons with height of 3.5 m and width more than 3 m. The cargo weight, including a fastening element — spacer, is about 50 tons. The items are delivered by means of automotive transport to the sea port of Saint-Petersburg for loading aboard ship.
During manufacturing of the RCPS housings they are subject to various kinds of inspection, including X-ray inspection. A range of tests is also carried out. The most important of them is the final hydraulic test, during which the assembled item is held under pressure of 24.5 MPa for 10 minutes. After favorable results are obtained for every test and inspection, a test assembly of spherical housing with spacer and inner cone is carried out by the manufacturer. The assembly units are shipped to the customer separately, including fasteners and accompanying documents.
The RCPS housings are safety class 1 items. At a nuclear plant the reactor coolant pump set ensures coolant circulation from the reactor to steam generator and operates under pressure of 160 atmospheres and temperature of 300 degrees. Delivery scope for one unit consists of four spherical RCPS housings with spacers.
Bangladesh government believes that at least 1200MW unit of electricity from the first nuclear plant will be added to the national grid by 2023. The second with the same amount of power will be launched by 2024. Once the nuke plant goes into operation, it will offer a window of opportunities, such as ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to over 15 lakh families and jobs for a large number of people.
