OKBM Afrikantov completes Leningrad II-2 refuelling machine tests

Friday, 5 June 2015

Russia's OKBM Afrikantov, part of Atomenergomash, has successfully completed acceptance tests of the refuelling machinery for unit 2 of the Leningrad Phase II nuclear power plant under construction.

"The high quality installation and electrical work on the unique machinery were performed in record time," Atomenergomash said.

Features of the new technology, it said, include control of the integral structure of the fuel cell membranes, a televisual monitoring system that enables real-time observation of the process of refueling and a camera network that gives a general overview of machinery in operation in the factory.

The control system enables a significant reduction in the time required to load and unload fuel, it said. For example, loading fuel into unit 4 of the Kalinin nuclear power plant in automatic mode took just three-and-a-half days - almost half the time this process normally takes.

OKBM Afrikantov supplied equipment for units 2, 3 and 4 of the Rostov nuclear power plant, unit 4 of the Kalinin nuclear power plant and unit 1 of the Leningrad Phase II nuclear power plant. It is working on the supply of cargo handling machinery for units 1 and 2 of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

Leningrad Phase II is a new nuclear power plant adjacent to the existing Leningrad nuclear plant site. Two 1200 MWe AES-2006 design units are being built there, with two further AES-2006 units planned.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News