First EPR Nuclear Project Starts Cold Functional Tests

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Key operational tests have begun at the world's first European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) project, Olkiluoto 3 (OL3), in Finland.

Owner-operator Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) (Eurajoki) said that the much-delayed nuclear project had reached the start of cold functional tests, the first key milestone of 2017. The main purpose of the tests is to verify the leak-tightness of the primary circuit, with the plant expected to be fully commissioned by the end of next year. The project was meant to be a showcase for AREVA's EPR, the first third-generation reactor to be deployed on a global scale, but the project has become infamous for being almost a decade past its original deadline and costing AREVA billions of euros in additional costs and penalties.

The cold functional tests stage will take about four weeks, and dozens of tests are to be carried out at different pressure levels. Main coolant pumps will be started for the first time and the pressure is increased gradually in the reactor coolant system to a maximum value significantly exceeding the normal operating pressure. The primary circuit refers to the circulation of water between the reactor pressure vessel and the steam generators.

TVO explained: "The temperature of the water is increased to 328 degrees in the reactor pressure vessel, and the water is then led in the reactor coolant piping to the steam generators, where heat is transferred from the water to the secondary circuit. The temperature of the water decreases to slightly less than 300 degrees, and the water returns to the reactor. A high pressure is maintained in the primary circuit to prevent the boiling of the water."

Jouni Silvennoinen, OL3 Project Director, commented: "This is an important step in plant commissioning. The hot functional tests scheduled for autumn are the next major milestone. Once this stage has been successfully completed, OL3 will fulfil the preconditions for the granting of the operating licence in early 2018. There are still several important milestones to be met before the start of the regular electricity production at the end of 2018."

With a generating capacity of 1,600 megawatts (MW), OL3 will be the country's largest nuclear power project, capable of supplying about 15% of total electricity demand.

Last month, TVO dropped a legal action against AREVA that had sought access to information about the recent takeover of AREVA's nuclear business by French utility Électricité de France SA (EPA:EDF) (Paris, France) and how that would impact the OL3 project. TVO wanted guarantees that the takeover would not further delay the project. In a statement, AREVA said: "Discussions between the parties opened the door to the withdrawal of this action on May 18, 2017. The parties are concentrating on the completion of the OL3 project and the start-up of the power plant."

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