2024-09-15 16:07:28
The reactor body metal regeneration (heat treatment) facility of the Armenian NPP has been delivered to the nuclear power plant. The NPP is preparing for the final stage of the extension of the plant’s operation period, which will be carried out in 2021: the reactor will be fired, which will allow 80 to 85 percent to return it to the initial state.
This unique technological operation will be carried out within the framework of the project to modernize and extend the operational period of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian NPP. “This is an important scientific work to increase the safety of the station. Thanks to the fermentation, the properties of the metal of the reactor body will be restored, which will allow to continue its safe operation”, said Yuri Sviridenko, head of the Russian side of the project to extend the operation period of the plant.
Annealing of the reactor is the most effective way to restore the physico-mechanical properties of the metal of the reactor body, which are changed due to the influence of constant radiation during operation. The core of the reactor is the “heart” of the power unit, and its resource is responsible for extending the life of the plant.
Iran’s roasting is carried out from the complete unloading of the heat-releasing assembly in the holding basin. It is necessary to examine the hull and assemble the combustion plant inside the reactor. The reactor core is heated to 475 degrees with the help of the heating plant and kept at that temperature for several days, after which slow cooling takes place. The structure of the metal restores its properties, which increases its service life.
The operation will be carried out by several organizations of “Rosatomy”, each of which is responsible for its part of the work. The technology was developed and relevant calculations are carried out by the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, the special design bureau “Hydropress” (ОКБ “ГИДROPРЕСС”) and the Construction Metals Institute “Promotey” (ЦНИИКМ “Прометей”), and the works at the station will be carried out by “Atomenergoremont”. (“Atomenergoremont”) and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering Technologies (“ЦНИИТМАШ”).
The technology of regenerative sintering of the metal of the reactor body was first used in 1987 at the Novovoronezhian NPP. Today, this operation is carried out in all the stations, in which the deadlines are extended. Regenerative firings were carried out on a number of reactors of the ВВЕР-440 type in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Finland.