The verification of two out of four electric engines of the primary circulation pumping assemblies located at the reactor hall of the innovative VVER-1200 2nd power block has been successfully completed at the Leningrad NPP-2.

The equipment trial was run at idle speed. At first, the specialists launched each electric engine for a short period of time to define the direction of rotation. At the next stage, the electric engines were spinning for 15 minutes in order to measure the vibrations and to verify the automated control operation. In order to fully confirm the main parameters, the final stage took 6 hours.

‘The tests at idle went successfully. We have proven that the electric engines have been properly assembled, they are functional and work in a stable manner. During the test run, no unwanted sounds, vibrations, defects or failures were detected. All measurable and controllable parameters were confirmed and are within the working values’, Alexander Belyaev, the chief engineer at the Leningrad NPP-2, said.

Once all other electric engines are verified at idle, they will be connected to the circulation pumps, and the machinery will be tested at load.

The primary circulation pumping assemblies are key high-powered pieces of equipment (over 7,000 kW each). When in operation, they will have to pump at least 80,000 cubic meters of heat transfer agent per hour through the reactor core.

Shortly, the primary circulation pumping assemblies will be used during all major operations held at the power block during the pre-launch adjustment works, including the circulation flushing of the reactor facility primary circuit and equipment hot trial.