Suppliers clinch CPR-1000 component contracts
Several contracts have recently been awarded to UK, US and French engineering companies to supply components for new Chinese-designed CPR-1000 reactors either currently under construction or planned in China.
UK engineering firm Rolls-Royce announced that it has agreed contracts worth over £35 million ($56 million) to supply instrumentation and control systems for eight new Chinese reactors.
Under the contracts with China Nuclear Power Engineering Corp (CNPEC), Rolls-Royce will supply six rod control systems (RCS) and eight neutron instrumentation systems (NIS).
The RCS actuates the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in order to withdraw or insert the reactor control rods, to control the power of the nuclear reactor. The NIS enables operators to permanently monitor instantaneous nuclear power, power fluctuations, and radial and axial power distribution in the reactor by using the neutron flux measured by the "excore" neutron detectors.
The systems will be manufactured at Rolls-Royce's facility in Meylan, France.
The contracts include systems for use in Fanchengang units 1 and 2; Hongyanhe units 5 and 6; and Yangjiang units 3, 4, 5 and 6. All the units are either under construction or planned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC)
In a statement, Rolls-Royce said: "This agreement strengthens the company's position in China, building upon previous contracts to supply RCS and NIS for ten nuclear power plants located at Hongyanhe, Yangjiang, Fangjiashan and Fuqing." The statement added, "Rolls-Royce intends to develop a local presence to support its Chinese customers in the further development of their nuclear power infrastructure."
Safety-related valves
Meanwhile, US valve manufacturer Flowserve has been awarded two multi-million dollar contracts by CNPEC and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corp (CNEIC) for main steam isolation valves (MSIVs) for use in four new CPR-1000 reactors in China.
MSIVs are used to assist in the safe shutdown of a reactor in the unlikely event of a rupture in the plant's main steam piping. The valves will be used in Fuqing units 3 and 4 and Tianwan units 5 and 6. All four units are currently under construction and are scheduled to begin operating in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Tom Pajonas, president of Flowserve's flow control division, said, "These orders further strengthen our long-standing relationship with the Chinese nuclear power industry and with our customers, CNPEC and CNEIC." He added, "We are pleased to be able to supply the products that help power the future of nuclear energy in China."
In August, Flowserve announced that it had been awarded three contracts totalling over $10 million from CNPEC for MSIVs for six new CPR-1000 reactors. These are: Yangjiang units 3 and 4 in Guangdong province, Fangchenggang units 1 and 2 in Guangxi autonomous province and Ningde units 3 and 4 in Fujian province. The 1000 MWe units are scheduled to begin commercial operation between 2014 and 2016.
Sump strainers
ONET Technologies of France, in partnership with Bertin Technologies, has been awarded a contract by China Nuclear Engineering Corp (CNEC) to design part of the sump strainers for the safety injection and containment spray systems for four CPR-1000 units at Fuqing and Fangjianshan.
ONET said that the project will "also include the design of the tooling equipment for the site work, training of the site technicians as well as assistance during the on-site installation phase."
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
