On September 24, 2020, work to install a circular pipeline for primary cooling water has started at the turbine building of the Kurskaya-2 nuclear power plant (NPP). The pipeline enables water circulation between the turbine condenser and the cooling tower used to cool the steam in the turbine. The Kursk-2 nuclear power plant will have a circular pipeline with the largest diameter of all Russian nuclear power plants: 3,128 mm. It is three times the size of all active Russian nuclear power stations.

“The increase in the diameter of the circular line is due to the fact that the technological scheme of the VVER-TOI project provides for two circular pumps that allow water circulation between the cooling tower and the turbine condenser, rather than four as in an NPP with VVER reactors. The pipe diameter has been increased to ensure an adequate water supply. This change reflects the optimization of economic and technological decisions within the framework of the VVER-TOI project,” explained Alexei Volnov, chief engineer of the Kursk Nuclear Power Station.

The total length of the ring line will be about 908 meters. The pipeline will be laid in separate blocks that will be joined by welding. A total of 175 blocks weighing between two and eight tons each are to be installed. All units are manufactured in the steel block production facility directly at the site of the Kursk-2 nuclear power plant.

Around 400 tons of the circular pipeline are planned to be laid this year. There are about 40 blocks. The building professionals will have to make about 120 welds. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Once the installation is complete, the circular pipeline will be connected to the pipes running in the foundation plate of the turbine building of the first power plant.