Rooppur nuclear plant runs hydraulic pressure tests

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) authorities have successfully conducted the hydraulic pressure tests in first of their two-unit under-built plant, a statement of its Russian builder Rosatom said.

“Hydraulic 24.5 MPa tests have been successfully completed in terms of density and strength at the primary circuit systems and equipment of the Rooppur NPP power unit No 1,” read the state-run Rosatom statement received here today.

The test was intended to verify the strength of the main circuit systems and equipment, according to the Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division, which is building the nation’s first nuclear power plant.

While the “hot run of the reactor plant” will be performed at a later time, the hydraulic tests were performed at a pressure of 24.5 MPa.

According to Rosatom officials, the testing procedure involved a number of steps, including initial setup, water entering the primary circuit, reaching the necessary temperature and pressure, and getting the main and nearby systems ready.

The statement said an automated process control system was put into operation to control the process parameters during the hydraulic tests.

It said the concerned experts conducted the hydraulic pressure tests thorough monitoring of the equipment status, recording all indicators as demanded by the design requirements and international safety standards.

“The hydraulic tests completed at the Rooppur NPP power unit 1 confirm the high level of quality and safety of our project,” it said calling the analysis a “significant stage” ahead of the next crucial hot run of the reactor plant”.

Rosatom’s Bangladesh project vice president Alexey Deriy, ASE said they were “confident that the plant will become a reliable source of energy for Bangladesh for decades to come”.

Rooppur is the site of Bangladesh’s first two-unit nuclear power station, which is being built with financial and technical assistance from Russia. Two units each will produce 1,200 MW of power using “3+ generation VVER 1200 reactors.”

The first unit was reportedly preparing for fuel loading and a subsequent start-up in the near future.