Series of tests are on for Kudankulam atomic power plant

New Delhi, Oct 25: Even as the first reactor of

plant started generating electricity and was connected to the grid on Tuesday, a series of tests are in progress lined up before the plant reaches its full capacity, a nuclear energy expert said on Thursday.

This includes profile tests for the basic systems and equipment of the unit, with the unit operating at different levels of electric capacity.

The 1000MW unit is the first reactor at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project (KKNPP), which is being built by the NPCIL with Rosatom, Russia's State Energy Corporation. The second unit (reactor) should reach the criticality stage in six months, sources said.

"Compliance of the actual and design values of the basic parameters of the reactor and the power unit as a whole will be confirmed.

Time period required for carrying out all this work is likely to take six months," said a Russian nuclear expert Alexandr Uvarov, who is also the editor-in-chief of the atominfo.ru, a website catering to nuclear news and nuclear scientists.

First reactor began generating power on Oct 22

The tests are conducted at different stages when the plant starts generating 50 per cent of the capacity, followed by 75 per cent and then subsequently 100 per cent. The tests also include disabling of the basic systems of the unit and testing its stability in this situation.

"At the same time, an entire series of tests take place with the power unit disconnected from the power grid," Uvarov added. These tests are mandatory as prescribed by the AtomicEnergy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India.

Uvarov added "the next stage follows which is the integrated testing of the power unit. At this stage, the unit is supposed to have worked without interruption for 72 hours, at the capacity of 100 per cent."

PTI