The installation of steam generators at unit 4 of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in India’s Tamil Nadu state has been successfully completed on June 19th, as announced by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Innovative Installation Method
All four steam generators, each with a diameter exceeding 4 meters, a length of approximately 14 meters, and a weight of 340 tons, were installed using the ‘open top’ method.
This technique, first employed at Kudankulam unit 3, enables the loading of large equipment into the reactor building using a heavy-duty crane before the reactor dome is closed, significantly reducing installation time.
Efficient and High-Quality Installation
Anton Chistyakov, deputy director for projects in India and head of the construction department at the Kudankulam NPP site of Atomstroyexport JSC, praised the efficiency and quality of the installation process carried out by the Indian partners.
He highlighted the effectiveness of the open top installation technology, proposed by Russia, and the high quality of the installation procedures demonstrated by contractors.
Previous Installation Milestones
The installation of the steam generators follows the successful placement of the unit’s reactor pressure vessel, weighing over 317 tons, on January 24th, also utilizing the open top method.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Expansion
The Kudankulam nuclear power plant currently houses two operational Russian-supplied VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors owned and operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.
Four additional VVERs are under construction, with work on units 3 and 4 initiated in 2017 and units 5 and 6 in 2021.
A fourth phase, comprising two VVER-1200 reactors – Kudankulam 7 and 8 – has been proposed.
The general contractor for the project is Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport, with Atomenergoproekt serving as the general designer and OKB Gidropress as the equipment designer.