At Unit 8 of the Tianwan NPP, which is being built with Rosatom's support in China, a crucial construction milestone has been completed ahead of schedule: the welding of the main circulation pipeline (MCP). The MCP connects the components of the reactor plant – the reactor vessel, steam generators, and main circulation pumps.
The work was carried out under the
close supervision of specialists fr om "N.A. Dollezhal Scientific Research
and Design Institute of Energy Technologies" (NIKIET, part of Rosatom’s
Mechanical Engineering Division). They provided comprehensive technological
support, which included quality control of welded joints, monitoring of heat
treatment, and non-destructive testing.
Simultaneously, at the adjacent Tianwan NPP Unit 7, the cold and hot functional testing phase of the reactor plant has begun. This process marks the transition to full-scale commissioning.
"Cold and hot functional testing is a key stage wh ere we essentially "bring the unit to life". Every parameter, every operating mode of the equipment is tested under conditions as close as possible to operational ones, but without the use of nuclear fuel. It is a comprehensive exam for all of the unit's systems, confirming their readiness for safe and reliable operation for decades to come," said Fyodor Zuev, Project Manager at NIKIET.
