One of the key stages of cold and hot functional tests has been completed during a set of commissioning activities, such as blowdown of the fresh steam pipelines in the turbine compartment at Unit 1 of the Rooppur NPP in the People's Republic of Bangladesh (its general contractor and designer being the Rosatom Engineering Division). Such tests are mandatory before conducting further operations and required to ensure reliable and safe operation of the turbine equipment during NPP operation.
The blowdown was carried out using fresh steam under 2.0 MPa pressure and 200 °C temperature. These parameters were selected taking into account the design requirements and ensured reliable cleaning of the pipelines from possible residual moisture, process contaminants and mechanical particles. The tests came with the steam discharged into the atmosphere and accompanying noise. This will be followed by the repeated blowdown of the steam pipelines with an increased volume of fresh steam which will allow for the final cleaning of the main lines and specify the equipment operating parameters under a near-operational load.
“With the completion of this stage of commissioning works, the Rooppur NPP takes another step towards the pivotal event, such as launching of power unit No. 1 and its subsequent connection to the power grid, which will supply the country's residents with additional energy, vital for both the economy and industry. In the future, the Rooppur NPP built according to the latest Russian VVER-1200 design, is expected to supply Bangladesh with up to 10 % of clean energy for decades to come,” said Alexey Deriy, Atomstroyexport JSC Vice President for Projects in Bangladesh.
Rooppur NPP equipped with two VVER-1200 reactors of the
total 2400 MW capacity is being constructed under the Russian design 160 km
from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in accordance with General Contract
dated December 25, 2015. The Russian design of with VVER-1200 reactors has been
selected for first NPP in Bangladesh. Rosatom's top-of-the-line VVER-1200
reactors have already proven their efficiency and reliability in the operation
of reference power units. This is an evolutionary Gen III+ design which fully
complies with all international safety requirements. Currently, six power units
are being operated on the basis of such reactors, including four power units in
Russia and two ones in the Republic of Belarus. Construction of nuclear power
plants under Russian technology is underway in Egypt, Hungary, Turkey and
China.
The Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division unites the leading companies of the nuclear industry, namely: Atomstroyexport JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branch offices in Russia and abroad), Joint Design Institute – Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and St. Petersburg branch offices and design institutes, branch offices in Russia and abroad, R&D branches) and subsidiary construction companies. The Engineering Division ranks first in the world by the order portfolio and the number of NPPs constructed simultaneously across the world. About 80% of the Division’s revenues originate from foreign projects. The Engineering Division implements construction projects for high-power NPPs in Russia and across the world, renders a full range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services including project management and design activities, and develops Multi-D technologies for the management of complex engineering facilities. The Division relies on the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and modern cutting-edge technologies. www.ase-ec.ru
