The initial steam generator designated for units 5 and 6 at the Kaiga nuclear power plant, situated in Karnataka, India, has successfully reached its destination from the L&T Hazira complex in Gujarat.
Development of Kaiga 5 and 6
Units 5 and 6 at Kaiga represent the first of ten 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) designed in India, which will be constructed in a fleet mode.
This construction strategy is intended to achieve economies of scale and enhance efficiency. These units have received administrative approval and financial backing from the Indian government.
Excavation work for these units commenced in May 2022. Previously, two 700 MWe PHWR units have been constructed at Kakrapar in Gujarat and are now in commercial operation.
Additionally, fuel loading is underway for another 700 MWe unit, Rajasthan unit 7, which is anticipated to commence commercial operation before the end of the year.
Function and Specifications of the Steam Generator
Steam generators function as heat exchangers that transform water into steam using the heat generated in a nuclear reactor core.
In PHWRs, the coolant, kept at high pressure to prevent boiling, is pumped from the reactor coolant pump through the reactor core and the steam generator’s tubes before returning to the pump.
The steam generator for Kaiga units 5 and 6 is an immense component, weighing over 200 tonnes, measuring approximately 24 metres in length, and having a diameter of about 4 metres.
Current Operations at Kaiga
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd currently manages four 202 MWe PHWRs at the Kaiga site.
