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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Critical systems have been installed at the New Safe Confinement (NSC) shield covering the destroyed nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine.
The installation of critical cranage, ventilation and control systems for the project are close to completion, and the final stages of sealing the confinement to the old structure is underway. The milestone comes just over a year after a massive steel and concrete arch weighing 36,000 tonnes was slid into place over Reactor 4. The NSC was the world's largest moveable land-based structure, standing 110-metres tall, 165-metres long and with an arch span of 257 metres. The arch alone cost 1.5 billion euro ($1.77 billion), and was funded mostly by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). For additional information, see November 21, 2016, article--Giant Arch Covers Destroyed Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor.
Chernobyl is home to the worst nuclear power plant accident in history when, in 1986, an explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor killed more than 30 people and forced the permanent evacuation of 100,000 people from the surrounding area. The melted reactor left significant amounts of material containing nuclear fuel in the lower floors of the building, which have been covered with a temporary cover ever since. Extensive testing of the new systems is underway with the goal of commissioning the structure next year before handing over its management to Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP).
Vince Novak, EBRD director, Nuclear Safety, said: "Strong progress has been made in difficult circumstances. The work on the end wall took place in an environment of heightened radiation and we are very proud that it was finished without any accidents and negative impact on the workforce. Meanwhile, the installation of the ventilation system and the high-tech crane create the preconditions for future decommissioning operations. While we are pleased with what has been achieved, more remains to be done and we are fully committed to finish the job safely and on cost and schedule."
The end walls serve as a partition between the contaminated areas around reactor 4 and the remaining turbine hall, housing reactors 1, 2 and 3. The technology building will serve as the command centre of the NSC, from which day-to-day operations of the structure as well as future decommissioning works will be guided. The new crane system, which has been installed just below the ceiling of the arch, has a bridge length longer than a Boeing 777 and a lifting capacity of up to 50 tonnes. The system is fully automated and will allow for the future dismantlement of Reactor 4 in a hermetically sealed environment.
The NSC arch is part of the Shelter Implementation Plan to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe and secure environment. It is expected to cost 2.1 billion euro ($2.5 billion) in total, and is funded by contributions from more than 40 countries and organisations.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
The installation of critical cranage, ventilation and control systems for the project are close to completion, and the final stages of sealing the confinement to the old structure is underway. The milestone comes just over a year after a massive steel and concrete arch weighing 36,000 tonnes was slid into place over Reactor 4. The NSC was the world's largest moveable land-based structure, standing 110-metres tall, 165-metres long and with an arch span of 257 metres. The arch alone cost 1.5 billion euro ($1.77 billion), and was funded mostly by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). For additional information, see November 21, 2016, article--Giant Arch Covers Destroyed Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor.
Chernobyl is home to the worst nuclear power plant accident in history when, in 1986, an explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor killed more than 30 people and forced the permanent evacuation of 100,000 people from the surrounding area. The melted reactor left significant amounts of material containing nuclear fuel in the lower floors of the building, which have been covered with a temporary cover ever since. Extensive testing of the new systems is underway with the goal of commissioning the structure next year before handing over its management to Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP).
Vince Novak, EBRD director, Nuclear Safety, said: "Strong progress has been made in difficult circumstances. The work on the end wall took place in an environment of heightened radiation and we are very proud that it was finished without any accidents and negative impact on the workforce. Meanwhile, the installation of the ventilation system and the high-tech crane create the preconditions for future decommissioning operations. While we are pleased with what has been achieved, more remains to be done and we are fully committed to finish the job safely and on cost and schedule."
The end walls serve as a partition between the contaminated areas around reactor 4 and the remaining turbine hall, housing reactors 1, 2 and 3. The technology building will serve as the command centre of the NSC, from which day-to-day operations of the structure as well as future decommissioning works will be guided. The new crane system, which has been installed just below the ceiling of the arch, has a bridge length longer than a Boeing 777 and a lifting capacity of up to 50 tonnes. The system is fully automated and will allow for the future dismantlement of Reactor 4 in a hermetically sealed environment.
The NSC arch is part of the Shelter Implementation Plan to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe and secure environment. It is expected to cost 2.1 billion euro ($2.5 billion) in total, and is funded by contributions from more than 40 countries and organisations.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
