12th August 2013, Moscow / Hyderabad : Rosatom in July 2013, successfully performed the passive fast-acting boron injection system (PFBIS) of the operating reactor, at Unit 1 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant ( NPP).
This system has no analogues both in the national and global practice. Successful tests of PFBIS performed at the Indian VVER reactor, built under the Russian project, have become a new step towards further strengthening of VVER reactors’ safety.
Details
Passive fast-acting boron injection system (PFBIS) is a new development developed by Russian specialists.
It is an additional safety system for controlling beyond-design-basis accidents in case the regular emergency protection system fails to act, for one reason or another.
It is designed to switch the nuclear reactor core to subcritical state by injecting a concentrated solution of boric acid into the primary coolant circuit in the event of failure of the reactorr control and protection system.
The system is comprised of four independent channels, each of which includes a tank containing boric acid and connected to the circulation loop in parallel with main circulating pump (MCP).
When opening fast-acting isolation valves on the pipelines connecting PFBIS tanks to the primary coolant circuit, boron solution is displaced from them by the coolant of the primary circuit due to the MCP head, including the time during their coastdown. Boron solution displaced to the primary coolant circuit of the reactor system flows to the reactor core’s entry, which results in the reduced power of the reactor.
The PFBIS system is installed in the first two units of the Kudankulam NPP. There were suggestions to employ it in the Bulgarian Belene Nuclear Power Plant. This system in future will be deployed at Unit 3 and Unit 4 of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant
At the first unit of the Kudankulam NPP, tests for PFIBIS were performed prior to the physical start-up of the reactor, while in July, 2013, they were carried out after the physical start-up. The results obtained comply with the design values.
Nether French nor American light water reactors include any analogue of the Russian PFBIS.
About Rosatom :
The Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM incorporates more than 250 enterprises and scientific institutions, including all civil nuclear companies of Russia, nuclear weapons complex’s facilities, research organizations and the world’s only nuclear-propelled fleet. ROSATOM is the largest utility in Russia which produces more than 40 % of electricity in the country’s European part. ROSATOM holds leading positions in the world market of nuclear technologies being the 1-st in the world simultaneous nuclear build abroad; 2-nd in uranium reserves and 5-th in uranium mining; 4-th in nuclear electricity generation, while providing 40% of the world uranium enrichment services and 17% of the world nuclear fuel market.
ROSATOM is also tasked to fulfill Russia’s international obligations in the field of the peaceful uses of atomic energy and nuclear nonproliferation regime. At present Rosatom has received orders for the construction of 19 nuclear power units in various countries of the world and by 2030, this portfolio is expected to grow to the worth of US$ 80 billion