Integrity tests of Unit 1 reactor successfully completed

Tirunelveli (TN), Jan 27 (PTI): The ''integrity test'' of thereactor containment of Unit 1 of Kodankulam Nuclear PowerProject, as also complete instrumentation tests have beensuccessfully carried out to ensure it would operate for thenext 40 years, a top project official said here today.

"The integrity test,prior to reactor startup to demonstrateits strength, as also the primary and secondary systems andcontainment tests was sucessfully completed on January 25 toour satisfaction to ensure the reactor will operate for thenext 40 years," Project Site Director Kasinath Balaji saidtoday.

Other significant milestones like ''hydraulic testing ofprimary and secondary circuits of NSSS (nulcear steam supplysystem)'' were successfully carried out recently, he said.

Balaji said hydraulic tests of the entire system includingequipment, piping, tubing and supporting system wassuccessfully tested at a pressure much higher than normal toestablish strength and leak tightness of the circuit.

These tests were done in the presence of specialists ofNuclear power Corporation of India Limited, Atomic EnergyRegulatory Board and Russian design organisations, he said.

Completion of these tests paves way for the "Hot run" ofthe reactor with dummy fuel for conducting process tests ofthe reactor plant, to be followed by fuel loading for thestar-up of the reactor and electricity generation.

Balaji said the target was to attain criticality of Unit 1by early March and for power generation to commence from thatmonth end. Unit-2 is in advanced stage of completion.

Commissioning activities for the latter have already commencedand is expected to be completed in eight to 10 months, hesaid.