Vessel installed at unit 2 of Novovoronezh II

Monday, 30 March 2015

The reactor pressure vessel has been installed at unit 2 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant, Russian architect-engineer AtomEnergoProekt said today. Installation was carried out in two stages.

The vessel is lowered into the reactor shaft (Image: Atomenergoproekt)

In the first stage, the 300 tonne reactor vessel was raised to the transport portal and then moved onto rails to be placed in the pressurized zone. In the second phase, which took place on 28 March, the reactor vessel was installed via a polar crane into the reactor shaft.

Welding work has started on the main circulation pipe of the reactor installation.

The unit is scheduled to start commercial operation in February 2018.

Novovoronezh II is the lead project for the deployment of the AES-2006 design incorporating a Gidropress-designed pressurized water reactor, an evolutionary development from the VVER-1000. Construction of Novovoronezh II units 1 and 2, also known as Novovoronezh units 6 and 7, began in June 2008 and July 2009, respectively. The original Novovoronezh site nearby already hosts three operating reactors and two that are being decommissioned.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News