The reactor pressure vessel viz. the most important equipment of the Unit 3 has been delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site having cleared a distance of more than 1700 miles (3150 km). The reactor pressure vessel is a vertical cylindrical vessel with elliptical bottom. It is large-size equipment inside which the core shall be located at the NPP construction stage, where the nuclear fuel, reactor control and protection system devices, design elements for controlled nuclear reaction and transfer of heat energy to the coolant are accommodated.
The reactor pressure vessel for the Akkuyu NPP third power unit has been manufactured at the enterprises of the Rosatom machine-building division viz. Atommash plant. The equipment weight in transportation packing constitutes 347.5 tons, length 11.45 m, width 5.7 m. The reactor pressure vessel is the fifth vessel shipped from the Rosatom production site in 2023. Such a scope of shipments today is an absolute record for nuclear engineering for the entire history of its existence. Currently, Rosatom is the largest global exporter of nuclear technologies, and the State Corporation is conducting multiple construction of nuclear facilities in seven foreign countries.
“After the completion of mandatory incoming control procedures the reactor pressure vessel shall be handed over for erection. Approximately 300 different checks and control operations are made during its manufacture. This equipment operates in special conditions. It should provide leak tightness of the reactor during operation, safe refueling and operation of the reactor plant for more than 60 year life”, noted Sergei Butckikh, First Deputy CEO of Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Director of the NPP under construction.
Reference
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Turkey. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation III+ VVER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each NPP power unit will be 1200 MW.
Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.
According to the terms and conditions of the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, the NPP’s first power unit is supposed to be commissioned within 7 years after obtaining all construction authorizations. Given that the construction license for Power Unit No. 1 was obtained in 2018, the deadline is 2025. At the same time, the project stakeholders are making their best efforts to ensure its readiness of Power
Unit No.1 for commissioning in 2023, a jubilee year for the Republic of Turkey. Russia continues a constructive dialogue with its foreign colleagues, developing cooperation with countries from all over the world and actively forming a multipolar system of international relations. The implementation of major foreign energy projects also continues. Rosatom and its enterprises are actively involved in this activity.
