The first major component for the Paks II nuclear power plant, a core catcher, has been successfully delivered from Russia to the construction site in Hungary.
This essential safety device plays a vital role in containing molten core material in the unlikely event of a nuclear meltdown.
Core Catcher Design and Manufacturing
The core catcher is a cone-shaped container constructed from thermally resistant steel. Its primary function is to securely hold the molten core material, preventing the release of radioactive substances from the reactor containment building.
The core catcher destined for unit 5 of the Paks II plant was manufactured in Volgodonsk, Russia, and completed earlier this year.
Extensive Transport Journey
The core catcher, with a maximum diameter of 11 meters, a height exceeding 15 meters, and a weight of over 730 tons, was transported via waterways.
This complex journey spanned a total of 3,200 kilometers and took 48 days to reach the Paks II site.
International Collaboration on Transport
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó highlighted the international nature of the project, stating, “Typically, an international project involves international transport and this wasn’t an exception. The transport was organized by an Austrian company, and the core-catcher trap arrived in Paks on a Slovakian ship.”