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Abu Dhabi /Â WAM
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) successfully completed the welding of Reactor Coolant Loop piping and the Reactor Containment Building (RCB) dome structure for Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.
The completion of pipe welding for the Reactor Coolant Loop has set a new global benchmark for quality in pipe welding, and the RCB dome structure marks the completion of the major construction activities for the building which houses the main components. These achievements mark another set of safe and on-time milestones in the construction of Unit 3, which is now 69 percent complete.
The dome is the final structural component of the vast Reactor Containment Building (RCB), which houses the nuclear reactor and is a critical structure in the nuclear plant’s defence-in-depth barriers. RCBs are extremely robust in design; with thick concrete walls and heavy reinforcing steel, they rank among the strongest structures in the world. One of the next steps in the construction process will be to test the structural integrity of the RCB, including the building’s ability to withstand high internal pressures.
The Reactor Coolant Loop plays a key role in transferring heat from the Reactor Vessel (RV) – through a separate circuit – to the Steam Generators. The Steam Generators use the heat to produce the steam that is required to spin the turbine-generator. This action produces the electricity which will be delivered through the UAE’s electricity grid to power homes and businesses across the country. After passing through the Steam Generators, the water is cooled and returned to the RV through a different set of pipes. The process is driven by the Primary Coolant Pumps.
A large number of heavy wall piping welds were completed with outstanding results, establishing a new industry quality benchmark for similar operations.
A narrow groove, automatic welding technique was used by 10 highly experienced welding operators using the latest technology, to assemble and install the RCL piping. After the welding was completed, verification tests demonstrated the high quality of the welds.