The engines of the four main circulation pumps in the reactor building of the 1st Power Unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), built by the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom, were gradually started and brought to idle. With this operation, another stage of the unit commissioning work was completed.
Having ensured that the pumps were ready, the experts fulfilled one of the conditions for the start of the circulation washing and hydraulic test, in which the first circuit will be filled with desalinated water to check the density and strength of all its elements.
The process of idling the pump motors consists of applying a 10 kV power supply and starting the electric motor at nominal speed. During the idling of the motors, experts checked the lubrication and cooling system of bearings, monitoring, control and technical diagnostic systems. The tests confirmed the compliance of the main parameters with the test program.
In the next phase, it is planned to operate the electric motors in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturing plant documentation and commissioning programs.
There are a total of four main circulation pumps in the first circuit of the reactor plant, one in each loop of the main circulation pipe.
All stages of preparations for the commissioning of the first power unit of Akkuyu NPP are of great importance for Turkey. Thanks to the many years of experience of engineers, designers and specialists of Rosatom's regulatory organizations, a number of complex technical operations have been successfully implemented, completing another important stage in the work on the first unit. The gradual idling of the motors of the four main circulation pumps is a mandatory and important element of the pre-commissioning work before the commissioning of the power unit. The readiness of the circulation pump motors determines the start of the cold-hot run-in phase of the reactor plant, during which all pumps will be commissioned. During the operation of the power unit, four main circulation pumps will circulate the coolant in the reactor core.
