Tyco to upgrade Russia nuclear plant

Manchester, UK - Tyco Flow Control has won a  £13 million order from the European Commission and Russian nuclear operator Rosenergoatom to manufacture, deliver and install its type GA251 Sempell gate valves at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) near Ekaterinberg, Russia. The project, which is supported by the EU's EuropeAid programme, covers the replacement of 231 safety critical valves in the water-steam circuit of the Fast Breeder Reactor BN600 – the largest unit of its type in the world.

The Beloyarsk NPP consists of 3 power units. Units 1 and 2 with water graphite channel-type reactors were shut down for decommissioning in 1981 and 1989 respectively. NPP Unit 3, with a BN-600 reactor rated at 600 MW, went on line in 1980. The water-steam components undergoing replacement are standard types widely used in conventional power plants and compliant with the thermal power plant design codes and standards which were in force at the time.

Of around 3000 main water-steam valves of the BN600 unit, the 231 units being replaced are safety-related system components which no longer complied with current NPP safety codes and standards.

The Sempell gate valves - to be delivered in three lots from 2008 – 2010 - offer improvements in terms of the strength characteristics of the valves, manufacture quality, qualification of the body material for application in the water-steam circuit, gate tightness and proper functioning and reliability, said Tyco.

These valves will include actuators equipped with position indicators and a monitoring system for gate seal and environment leak tightness. Tyco is also to ensure that all equipment is qualified in accordance with the State regulations and issue corresponding certification. Project execution is to be in accordance with the QA-Program developed by Sempell and agreed upon with the Contracting Authority.