Major lift for Vogtle 3

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

US nuclear construction at Vogtle has reached another milestone with the lifting of Vogtle 3's CA01 module into place.

The CA01 module is craned into place (Image: Georgia Power)

Weighing more than 1030 tonnes and with a height of 21 metres and width of 23 metres, the CA01 was assembled in the site's modular assembly building and moved to the nuclear island as a single item. It was lifted into place on 8 August by one of the world's largest cranes, a 171-metre high heavy lift derrick.

The modular construction technique means that large structural modules can be factory-built before installation at the site, making for swifter and more efficient construction. The steel CA01 module will house Vogtle 3's two steam generators and other equipment. Both of the steam generators, which were assembled in South Korea, are already at the Georgia site.

Two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors are under construction at Vogtle, joining two existing pressurized water reactors. Construction began on Vogtle 3 in March 2013, and the unit is expected to enter operation by the middle of 2019. Vogtle 4, under construction since November 2013, is expected to enter operation by mid-2020. Two AP1000s are also under construction at VC Summer in South Carolina, while four units under construction at Sanmen and Haiyang in China are scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2017.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News