Hydraulic tests of Rooppur NPP pump housings completed in Russia

Petrozavodsk Branch of JSC AEM-technology — a part of machine-building division of Rosatom State Corporation — has completed hydraulic testing of housings of the reactor coolant pump set (RCPS) intended for the first power unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Hydraulic testing is one of the most important types of inspection to be carried out during manufacturing of the pump housings, reads a press release. It is instrumental in confirmation of strength and tightness of items.

According to the testing schedule, the RCPS housing is filled with specially prepared water, which is then heated with steam. The minimum temperature of the housing wall heating is 52-degree Celsius.

The pressure is built up to 24.5 MPa (over 240 atmospheres) and held within 10 minutes. After the pressure reduction, the visual inspection is performed. After that, the RCPS housing is subjected to the repeated liquid penetrant testing, following which the item is prepared for shipment to the customer.

The RCPS housings are the items belonging to the first safety class. At a nuclear power plant, the reactor coolant pump set provides coolant circulation from the reactor to the steam generators and operates under a coolant pressure of about 160 atmospheres and at a temperature of 300 degrees. The extent of supply for one power unit consists of four spherical RCPS housings.

Rooppur NPP is being constructed under the Russian project; the plant is being designed and constructed by the Engineering Subdivision of Rosatom State Corporation.

The plant will consist of two power units equipped with two VVER reactors, the life cycle of which amounts to 60 years with an option to extend the service life for 20 years. The power capacity of each unit will be amounting to 1200 MW. The first NPP unit is going to come into operation in 2023, the second one in 2024. The company AEM-technology is manufacturing basic equipment of the reactor hall for two power units of Rooppur NPP.