On 25 May, 2017 at 11:31 in the turbine room of starting power unit No 4 of Rostov NPP the positioning of the turbine on the turning gear was carried out. This is one of the most important stages of the plant’s fourth power unit preparation for electric energy generation.

According to the Deputy Head of Phase II Turbine Department Aleksandr Sinyapkin, the main task of the technological operation execution was the testing of assembly accuracy and alignment of all the elements of the turbine’s flow path, as well as correspondence of its axis to the shaft of the turbine generator.

According to technical requirements, deviation tolerance in turbine axes can be no more than 0.03 mm during the assembly. This condition was fulfilled by the specialists of VdMU LLC that carried out the turbo generator assembly and adjustment under strict control by Rostov NPP specialists and engineering supervisors of the manufacturing plant.
“With the help of a special electric motor the shaft rotation of the turbine generator with the speed of 1 rotation per 7 minutes happens. This is enough to make sure that turbine is assembled in compliance with operating rules and standards”, Aleksandr Sinyapkin explained.

In his turn the Vice President on Projects in Russia of ASE Group Aleksey Deriy noted that completion of this stage is another step for provision of timely power start-up of the power unit. “Positioning of the turbine on the turning gear shows the high technical readiness of the turbine generator and its auxiliary systems for implementation of cold and hot trials of reactor unit”, he emphasized.

In addition, the works providing the readiness of mechanical and electrical facilities of auxiliary systems including lubrication systems of the turbine and generator were carried out during the stage of preparation of the turbine generator for positioning in the turning gear.

The list of the following pre-commissioning operations in the turbine house of power unit No 4 includes flushing of a condensate-feed pipeline, vacuum buildup at the turbine, testing of turbo feeding pumps with the following testing of the equipment in accordance with the program requirements.

These works must be completed to provide the conditions of bringing the turbine generator to “the idle run” (1,500 rpm) at the stage of power start-up that is scheduled for late 2017.

The Rostov NPP is an affiliate company for Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC. The plant is based at the Tsymlianskoe reservoir shore 13.5 km away from Volgodonsk. The NPP operates VVER-1000 reactors with the installed capacity of 1000 megawatts. The power block No.1 commenced commercial operations in 2001, with the second and the third power blocks to follow in 2010 and on September 17, 2015, respectively. The power block No. 4 is currently under construction.

The up-to-date information on the nuclear environment close to the Russian NOOs and other nuclear objects is available at www.russianatom.ru


The Rostov NPP Information and Public Relations Administration.