Major components delivered for Vogtle 4

28 September 2015

Major components for Vogtle 4, including parts for the reactor's passive core cooling system, have arrived at the plant's construction site, Georgia Power has announced.

Vogtle_4_CMT_(Georgia_Power)_460
One of Vogtle 4's two core make-up tanks completes its journey to the construction site by rail (ImageL Georgia Power)


The unit's two core make-up tanks, each weighing 149 tons (135 tonnes), were fabricated in Italy and shipped to the Port of Savannah in Georgia, completing their journey to the construction site by train. The core make-up tanks are a key part of the reactor's passive core cooling system, providing a source of cold, borated water which can be used to ensure that the reactor's coolant levels can be maintained under accident conditions.

The core make-up tanks for Vogtle left the Italian port of Monfalcone in July, according to Westinghouse-owned Italian heavy equipment manufacturer Mangiarotti SpA .

Vogtle 4's 672 ton (610 tonne) steam generator has also recently arrived at the site following a journey from South Korea, also via the Port of Savannah, Georgia Power said.

Vogtle 4 is the second of two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors under construction at the Georgia site. Construction began on unit 3 in March 2013 with Vogtle 4 under construction since November that year. The units are expected to enter service by mid-2019 and mid-2020, respectively.

The Port of Savannah has processed more than 22,000 tonnes of equipment and components for the Vogtle construction project since May 2014.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News