On November 13, 2018 installation of the device for catching the molten core material (core catcher) has been commenced at Kursk NPP-2 Unit 1 (ASE, ROSATOM Engineering Division is the General Designer and General Contractor).
The first element of the device – the core catcher vessel was installed in the design position. It is a vessel of over 110 tons, total weight of the device is over 800 tons. In addition to the vessel the basic elements of the core catcher are: block-assemblies filled with special non-metallic materials, maintenance platform, cantilever truss and bottom slab.
According to Mr. Alexey Deriy, JSC ASE EC Vice President – Director for Kursk NPP-2 construction project, the core catcher vessel is the first large-size long lead equipment that is installed in the reactor compartment of the Kursk NPP-2 Unit 1 under construction. ‘The core catcher is installed one month ahead of the scheduled time. The core catcher has been adjusted for the site conditions and meets all the current safety requirements, has the advanced seismic resistance, shock resistance and flood protection,’ noted Alexey Deriy.
For reference:
The core catcher is a Russian design part of the passive safety system for prevention of the radioactive releases to the environment in case of a hypothetical severe beyond-the-design-basis accident with the reactor vessel damage. The core catcher is able to retain liquid and solid core parts and reactor structure materials for an indefinite time maintaining the nuclear plant safe for the environment and people.
For the first time the core catcher was installed at Tianwan NPS in China. Now all power units of Novovoronezh NPP and Leningrad NPP-2 are equipped with the core catcher, as well as Kudankulam NPP in India.
ASE (Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division) was established by integration of the leading companies of the industry: JSC ASE EC, JSC Atomstroyexport, JSC Atomenergoproekt and JSC ATOMPROEKT. ASE is one of the leaders of the international nuclear power engineering business holding 31% of the global NPP construction market. Its representative offices, branches and operating offices are acting in 15 countries. Almost 80% of the order portfolio are accrued to overseas projects. It implements engineering and construction projects for high-power NPPs, RAW and SNF management facilities, thermal power facilities, and provides the full range of EPC, EPC(M) and PMC services for any complex engineering facilities.
ASE develops and actively implements the innovative Multi-D project management system in the area of complex engineering facilities construction that allows managing such parameters as budget, deadlines and quality more efficiently.
