The second phase of the ambitious Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project is fast gaining momentum.
Inner containment (IC) dome metal structures have been installed in the reactor building of Power Unit 2 of the plant recently, according to Rosatom.
According to Rosatom, the Russian contractor of the plant, the upper portion of the dome — 35.7 m in diameter and weighing 194 tonnes — was placed in its design position at an elevation of 51.7 m. And the construction height has now reached 60.5 m.
“IC dome installation is one of the 2022 milestones. We performed similar works at Power Unit 1 last year. Thanks to that, this time the dome pre-assembling activities required only 151 days, which is less than 56 days,” said Alexey Deriy, director of the Rooppur NPP Construction Project.
“Once both IC portions have been welded together, the dome concreting will take place,” he added.
Installation of the IC dome was performed in two stages. The lower portion of the dome of 42.8m in diameter and weighing 195 tonnes was placed in its design position a week earlier, on 20 June.
Assembly and installation work for the IC dome is carried out by specialists of the Branch Office of TrestRosSEM LLC, part of the Rosatom Engineering Division.
The Liebherr LR11350 crane (with a lifting capacity of 1350 tonnes) was used to lift the upper portion of the dome and it took four hours. There was particular difficulty in the process since it was required to place both dome portions in the design position with maximum accuracy.
The inner containment is one of the main components of the nuclear power plant safety system. It not only protects the reactor compartment but also supports the polar crane used to service the nuclear reactor.
The Rooppur NPP will host two Russian VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2400 MW.
These reactors belonging to generation 3+ are fully consistent with the international safety requirements. Russia’s Rostam State Corporation Engineering Division is the general designer and general contractor of the project.
According to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the implementing authority of the RNPP, the first unit of the power plant was scheduled to start operation in 2022 and second one in 2024.
But recently the first unit’s operation was rescheduled to 2024 and second unit to 2025.
