05.07.2019  INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF LENINGRAD NPP

The Leningrad NPP-2: the assembly of the primary pumping station equipment has begun at the 2nd VVER-1200 power block under construction

The assembly process has started at the construction site of the Leningrad NPP-2 2nd VVER-1200 power block for the primary pumping station equipment of the turbine hall: the team has assembled the body frames of the first two circulating pumps and proceeded with their installation onto the designated foundations.

Following the equipment anchorage and foundation concreting, pipes will be installed around the pumps in order to deliver process waters. At the next stage, the specialists will conduct the full cycle of electric installation and pre-commissioning activities.

According to Andrey Timakov, the deputy head of the turbine hall at the Leningrad NPP, each pump weighs around 22 tons, and their engine electric power capacity is 4 megawatt. This will suffice for each pump to stream over 40,000 cubic meters of process waters per hour. When the system is in operation, the water delivered to the turbine building will facilitate cooling of the 2nd power block’s turbine condensing group.

The other two circulating pumps will shortly arrive at the 2nd VVER-1200 power block’s construction site. All equipment units are scheduled to be installed within Q4 2019.

Reference:

Compared to the traditional VVER-1000 power blocks, the project for the 3+ generation Leningrad NPP power block has a number of advantages that considerably increase its economic parameters and safety standards. The capacity of the nuclear facility has been increased by 20%, from 1000 to 1200 megawatt; the designed life span of the core equipment has doubled and is now 60 years. In addition to that, this power block complies with the top international standards with regard to nuclear security. The Leningrad NPP-2 project serves as a reference for several international projects by the Rosatom State Corporation, such as the Belarusian NPP, the Paksh-2 NPP, the El Dabaa NPP, the Hanhikivi-1 NPP, etc.

The Leningrad NPP is the country’s first plant with RBMK-1000 reactors (uranium-graphite circuit-type reactor running on thermal neutrons). The decision that marked its construction was taken in September 1966 by a resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR and the Council of Ministers No. 800-252. According to that document, the Leningrad NPP was supposed to become a core in a network of nuclear power plants with RBMK-1000 reactors that were supposed to produce a substantial share of electric power. The construction of the Leningrad NPP was going well, and by 1973 the first power block was fully erected. On December 23, 1973, following stable 72-hours’ operation at the capacity of 150 megawatt, the State Commission signed the acceptance certificate stating that the first power block of the Leningrad nuclear power plant is commissioned for pilot production. 


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