25.04.2019
General Contractor-Atomstroyexport JSC, being a company of Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation has begun installation of the core melt localization device (“core catcher”) at the construction site of Rooppur NPP Unit 2, being built in Bangladesh now.
“This is one of the main elements of a passive safety system and the first large-sized equipment to be installed in Unit 2 building. Due to the coordinated actions of the engineering division employees, we started installation of the ‘core catcher’ one month earlier than was planned, — said Sergey Lastochkin, Vice-President and Director of Rooppur NPP Project,- Construction of Unit 1 & 2 is progressing according to the schedule”.
For reference:
Core catcher is a unique equipment, designed by Russian specialists which has a cone-shaped body to be installed at the bottom of the reactor core barrel and filled with a special material. If necessary, “core catcher” shall collect the core melt materials and ensure their uniform allocation in the core catcher body. Operation of the passive safety system does not depend on the personnel qualification and attendant circumstances but follows only basic nature laws. “Core catcher” is fully adapted for the relevant site conditions and safety requirements, has improved seismic resistance, hydro-dynamic and shock strength, as well as equipped with flood protection and simplified installation and assembly technology.
Rooppur NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors and the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed under the Russian design, 160 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with General Contract dated 25 December 2015. The General Contractor for Rooppur NPP construction is Atomstroyexport (the engineering division of Rosatom).
The Russian design with VVER-1200 reactors that was selected for the first NPP in Bangladesh, was successfully implemented at Unit No 1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2. This is an evolutionary GenIII+ design which fully complies with all international safety requirements. In 2017, the new Russian power unit was named among the three best nuclear power units in the Word by the well-known international magazine POWER (USA). In 2015-2016 preparatory works were performed at the construction site, detail design documentation and materials for receiving the license for the power unit location and construction, were developed. In 2017, Rooppur NPP project implementation continued according to the schedule. On 4 November 2017, the regulatory authority of Bangladesh (BAERA) issued the license for the NPP designing and construction. On 20 November the ceremony of first concrete pouring for the foundation of power unit No 1, was held. Active phase of the construction of Unit 2 Rooppur NPP started on July 14, 2018: the solemn ceremony of “first pour of concrete” into the foundation of the Power Unit Core catcher installation works started at Unit No. 1 on August 20, 2018. The works at the main buildings and structures of Unit 1 and Unuit 2 are currently in progress:
For reference:
ASE (Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division) was established by means of integration of the leading companies of the industry: JSC ASE EC (Nizhny Novgorod), JSC Atomstroyexport (Moscow), JSC Atomenergoproekt (Moscow) and JSC Atomproekt (St-Petersburg).
ASE is one of the global leaders in nuclear power engineering holding about 30% of the global NPP construction market. Engineering Division operates in Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa as well as in the Asia-Pacific region.
80% of the portfolio include foreign projects.
It implements design and construction projects for high-power NPPs, renders a full range of EPC, EPC(M) services and develops Multi-D technologies for management of complex engineering facilities. The Engineering Division carries out its activities based on the lessons learned from over the 50-year history of the nuclear power industry in Russia and state-of-the-art technologies.
We construct reliable and safe NPPs with 3+Gen VVER reactors that are in line with all international requirements and recommendations.
www.ase-ec.ru
