In the reactor building of power unit No. 2 of the Kursk NPP-2, specialists installed eight accumulator tanks of the passive core flooding system in their regular place.

These accumulator tanks belong to the second of the three stages of the passive part of the emergency core cooling system, the operation of which is based on natural processes that do not require operator intervention and an energy source. Earlier, in June of this year, four accumulator tanks of the first stage of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) were installed in their regular place.

“The tanks, which will subsequently be filled with a solution of boric acid, are designed to cool the nuclear reactor core in any emergency situations. The joint sequential operation of the three stages of accumulator tanks ensures the cooling of the reactor core and guarantees the transition of the reactor plant to a safe state in any combination of initiating events,” explained Andrey Osharin, first deputy director for construction of new units of the Kursk NPP.

Each accumulator tank of the passive core flooding system is a vessel over 10 meters high, weighing 77 tons and having a volume of 120 cubic meters. Their installation work is particularly complex. The installation was performed by the specialized installation organization Energospetsmontazh, which is part of the Engineering Division of Rosatom. The tanks are installed at a mark of 26.3 meters which is the ceiling of the central hall.

“For the first time, the installation of the tanks of the passive core flooding system was performed alongside with the sectoral concreting of the 26th mark. Such a combination of works allows reducing the time for approaching the installation of the inner containment dome. It is important that this was a team effort of our subsidiaries: Trest RosSEM and Energospetsmontazh, - said Oleg Shperle, vice president, project director for the construction of the Kursk NPP of JSC ASE.

Installation of the dome of the second power unit will allow proceeding to the adjustment and commissioning of the circular crane (polar), as well as the beginning of the installation of the main technological systems and preparations for the installation of the reactor vessel in its regular place.