27.10.2022
INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE KURSK NPP
At power unit No. 1 of the Kursk NPP-2, welding of the main circulation pipeline was completed at record speed
On October 25, 2022, at the construction site of the Kursk NPP-2 in the reactor building of the first power unit, one of the most important stages of construction was completed - welding of the pearlite part of the main circulation pipeline (MCP).
Welding and heat treatment of all welded joints was completed in 55 days instead of 80 scheduled, which is an absolute record for this operation.
The main circulation pipeline has a diameter of 850 millimeters, a wall thickness of 70 millimeters and a length of more than 140 meters. The MCC connects the main equipment of the primary circuit: the reactor, steam generators and main circulation pumps. Taking into account the high quality requirements and operating conditions, MCP welding is one of the most complex and critical stages of construction and installation work at a power unit. The water heated in the reactor enters the steam generators through the pipeline from where the steam goes to the turbine and generates power.
“Very strict requirements are imposed on the welded joints of the MCP. As part of the welding work, the specialists of the general contractor and the customer performed step-by-step control of all operations: visual, measuring, radiographic, capillary and ultrasonic,” said Andrey Osharin, acting director of the Kursk NPP, “and despite the high pace of work, the quality seams meets all requirements.
Specialists of Energospetsmontazh JSC were involved in the work. 24 welders and 24 installers, replacing each other, performed welding and cleaning of welded seams around the clock.
“In accordance with the directive schedule, the MCP welding should be completed within 80 days,” said Mikhail Pinchuk, general director of Energospetsmontazh, JSC, “but due to the fact that all the most effective improvement proposals previously implemented in MCP welding at power units of the Novovoronezh NPP-2, the Belarusian NPP and the Rooppur NPP were included in the project for the execution of works at the Kursk station, we managed to significantly reduce the duration of work. In addition, highly qualified specialists of 5-6 categories, who already have successful experience in performing these works at other NPPs, took part in the implementation of the project.”
“The main circulation pipeline is the main artery connecting the equipment of the nuclear steam generating plant of the nuclear power unit into a single whole. From the point of view of the technology for performing construction and installation work, the completion of welding of the MCP gives the opportunity to start the installation of safety systems and other technological systems that are adjacent to them. In fact, preparations are beginning for the implementation of the upcoming key technological event – the beginning of the open reactor safety system circulation,” said Oleg Shperle, vice president of JSC ASE, director of the Kursk NPP construction project.
At the moment, the MCP continues to perform work on the surfacing of austenitic stainless steel on internal welds, which will protect the pipeline from aggressive environments. These works will be completed by the end of October.
The construction of power unit 1 and 2 of the Kursk NPP-2 is performed as part of the federal project "Design and construction of reference power units of nuclear power plants" of the Integrated Program "Development of equipment, technologies and scientific research in the sphere of the use of atomic energy in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2024.
Welding and heat treatment of all welded joints was completed in 55 days instead of 80 scheduled, which is an absolute record for this operation.
The main circulation pipeline has a diameter of 850 millimeters, a wall thickness of 70 millimeters and a length of more than 140 meters. The MCC connects the main equipment of the primary circuit: the reactor, steam generators and main circulation pumps. Taking into account the high quality requirements and operating conditions, MCP welding is one of the most complex and critical stages of construction and installation work at a power unit. The water heated in the reactor enters the steam generators through the pipeline from where the steam goes to the turbine and generates power.
“Very strict requirements are imposed on the welded joints of the MCP. As part of the welding work, the specialists of the general contractor and the customer performed step-by-step control of all operations: visual, measuring, radiographic, capillary and ultrasonic,” said Andrey Osharin, acting director of the Kursk NPP, “and despite the high pace of work, the quality seams meets all requirements.
Specialists of Energospetsmontazh JSC were involved in the work. 24 welders and 24 installers, replacing each other, performed welding and cleaning of welded seams around the clock.
“In accordance with the directive schedule, the MCP welding should be completed within 80 days,” said Mikhail Pinchuk, general director of Energospetsmontazh, JSC, “but due to the fact that all the most effective improvement proposals previously implemented in MCP welding at power units of the Novovoronezh NPP-2, the Belarusian NPP and the Rooppur NPP were included in the project for the execution of works at the Kursk station, we managed to significantly reduce the duration of work. In addition, highly qualified specialists of 5-6 categories, who already have successful experience in performing these works at other NPPs, took part in the implementation of the project.”
“The main circulation pipeline is the main artery connecting the equipment of the nuclear steam generating plant of the nuclear power unit into a single whole. From the point of view of the technology for performing construction and installation work, the completion of welding of the MCP gives the opportunity to start the installation of safety systems and other technological systems that are adjacent to them. In fact, preparations are beginning for the implementation of the upcoming key technological event – the beginning of the open reactor safety system circulation,” said Oleg Shperle, vice president of JSC ASE, director of the Kursk NPP construction project.
At the moment, the MCP continues to perform work on the surfacing of austenitic stainless steel on internal welds, which will protect the pipeline from aggressive environments. These works will be completed by the end of October.
The construction of power unit 1 and 2 of the Kursk NPP-2 is performed as part of the federal project "Design and construction of reference power units of nuclear power plants" of the Integrated Program "Development of equipment, technologies and scientific research in the sphere of the use of atomic energy in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2024.
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