All four steam generators - each with a diameter of more than 4 metres, about 14 metres long and weighing 340 tonnes - were installed using the 'open top' method, first used at Kudankulam unit 3. This method allows large equipment to be loaded into the reactor building using a heavy-duty crane before the reactor dome is closed. It can significantly cut the time taken to carry out the installation.
"The installation of steam generators at unit 4 by our Indian partners was carried out regularly and quite quickly," said Anton Chistyakov, deputy director for projects in India, head of the construction department at the Kudankulam NPP site of Atomstroyexport JSC. "The open top installation technology, proposed by the Russian side back at Unit 3, again confirmed its effectiveness during this installation, especially when all installation procedures were performed with such high quality as demonstrated by contractors at the construction of the Kudankulam NPP."
Installation of the steam generators followed that of the unit's reactor pressure vessel, weighing in at over 317 tonnes. That component was installed on 24 January, also using the open top method.
Kudankulam is home to two operating Russian-supplied VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors which are owned and operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. Four further VVERs are under construction: work started on units 3 and 4 in 2017, and on units 5 and 6 in 2021. A fourth phase comprising two VVER-1200 reactors - Kudankulam 7 and 8 - has been proposed.
The general contractor for the project is Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport, the general designer is Atomenergoproekt and the general designer is OKB Gidropress.
