Russia’s Izhorskiye Zavody (Izhora plant – part of the OMZ group) has completed hydraulic tests on the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for Unit 2 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant currently under construction in Turkey.
The devices are manufactured on behalf of AEM Technologies (part of Rosatom’s mechanical engineering division Atomenergomash).
The results of the hydraulic tests were evaluated by a commission made up of representatives from the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANR), AEM-Technologies, Atomstroyexport, VPO ZNPP, FSUE VO Safety and specialists from the Izhora plant. The RPV tests were carried out with a special test bench. The body was filled with water heated to a temperature of 68 degrees Celsius, then the pressure was gradually increased to a maximum value of 26.4 MPa. After holding the container at the highest pressure for 10 minutes, the examiners assessed the quality of the welds, the strength and the density of the base metal.
The commission confirmed that the hull meets all the requirements of the design and technological documentation. The company’s specialists are currently preparing the control assembly of the tank with internals and the upper block cover – the last step in the RPV manufacturing process before shipping to the customer.
As part of a delivery contract signed in 2017, Izhorskiye Zavody has already delivered ECCS containers and built-in parts for Akkuyu 2. In addition to the RPV, internals (inner shaft, baffle plate, protective tube block), an upper block, sealing parts for the main reactor connection, a support ring, a pressure ring, a main circulation line and a number of other devices and mechanisms are now being built.
Meanwhile, Ukraine-based Energomashspetsstal (EMSS) announced on Sept. 2 that it was preparing to send another large batch of blanks to Turkey for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. As part of a long-term contract, EMSS has produced another set of blanks for the Akkuyu units 3 and 4. All products have passed the quality control and have been approved by the customer. The acceptance test of the boards took place at the end of August at the EMSS site. Officials from ANR attended the inspection.
For the production of the main circulation line (MCP), the main circulation pump unit (MCPU) and the steam generator for Akkuyu 3 and 4, approx. 16 blanks were handed over to the customer. The batch includes pipes of different diameters, blanks, flanges, branch pipes and other products. The total weight of the finished products is 152 tons.
In 2020, EMSS passed an audit by ANR, which extended the certificate of the manufacturer of blanks for the equipment of the Akkuyu NPP until January 2026.
Rosatom is building four VVER 1200 reactors based on a self-made model in Akkuyu. Construction of the first block began in 2018 and commissioning is scheduled for 2023. After completion, the 4800 MWe plant will cover around 10% of the Turkish electricity demand.
Photo: The RPV for Unit 2 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant has completed the hydraulic tests (Photo: OMZ)
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