Specialists started to load dummy fuel assemblies (dummy FAs) into the reactor at Unit 1 of Belarus NPP (General Contractor and General Designer – ASE, Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation). This is one of the most important processes at the stage of the reactor plant preparation for the cold and hot run stage.
Dummy FAs are exact copies of fuel assemblies, entirely repeat their structure, but do not contain nuclear fuel. They are used instead of standard FAs during start-up and adjustment works at the cold and hot run stage of the reactor plant.
“Start of dummy FA loading is an evidence of readiness for the systems and equipment intended for nuclear fuel treatment during the power unit operation, for check of compliance with design parameters and safety requirements”, said Vitaly Polyanin, Vice-President – Director of Belarus NPP Construction Project, ASE EC JSC. – After the loading of all 163 FA in the reactor is completed, a small scope of works will remain concerning its final assembly for the stage of hydraulic testing and circulation washing of equipment in the primary and secondary circuits of the reactor plant. Its start is scheduled for the end of May”.
Belarus NPP with two reactors of VVER-1200, total capacity is 2400 MW, is constructed based on the Russian design of 3+ Generation, which fully corresponds to international standards and recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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ASE (Engineering Division of ROSATOM) was established by integration of the leading companies of the industry: ASE EC JSC (Nizhny Novgorod), Atomstroyexport JSC (Moscow), Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow) and ATOMPROEKT JSC (St. Petersburg). ASE is one of the global leaders in nuclear power engineering holding about 30% of the global NPP construction market. The Engineering Division operates in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Pacific. Foreign projects account for over 80% of the portfolio.
It implements design and construction projects for high-power NPPs, renders a full range of EPC, EPC(M) services and develops Multi-D technologies for management of complex engineering facilities.
