Subscribe Now! Get features like

A Russian State-run firm has completed manufacturing the steam generator for the fifth power unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, reflecting Russia’s focus on India-related projects amid the turbulence caused by the Ukraine crisis. Atommash, which is part of Atomenergomash or Rosatom’s machine building division, completed the welding of the steam generator heads with support components and 11,000 heat-exchange coils, according to a statement from the company. The Russian side has not allowed problems related to the Ukraine crisis to affect the Kudankulam nuclear power project, and in June, Rosatom supplied the first batch of TVS-2M nuclear fuel to India that allowed the two functioning reactors at Kudankulam to increase their fuel cycle from 12 months to 18 months. The steam generator is part of the heat exchange equipment used in a reactor facility and a “first safety class item”. The equipment is 14 metres long, more than four metres in diameter, and weighs 350 tonnes. Each nuclear power plant includes four steam generators. Automatic welding of the steam generator heads is done at temperatures of 120 degrees Celsius to 250 degrees Celsius over seven days. Specialists perform local heat treatment of welds and a range of technical inspections, including hydraulic tests and eddy-current test of heat-exchange tubes. In July, the LUCH Scientific Production Association, also part of the Rosatom State Corporation, signed an agreement to supply advanced thermocouples for four reactors at Kudankulam. The new sensors, designed for the thermal control of the nuclear power plant equipment, replaced old ones in the internal reactor control systems of the first two reactors. The ZiO-Podolsk JSC, which too is part of the machine-building division of Rosatom, manufactured heat-exchanging apparatus for the fifth reactor in Kudankulam in June. However, the most significant development in recent months was the supply in June of the first batch of TVS-2M nuclear fuel for the Kudankulam plant, which is powered by VVER-1000 reactors. This helped fulfil an agreement with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) on implementing a comprehensive engineering project, including the introduction of TVS-2M nuclear fuel and extending the fuel cycle from 12 months to 18 months for the two functioning reactors. Compared to the older UTVS fuel model, which was supplied by Russia for the Kudankulam plant, TVS-2M fuel assemblies have several advantages that make them more reliable and cost-efficient. The TVS-2M fuel assemblies are more robust, which helps them retain their geometry in the reactor core, and their components make them more vibration-resistant. The new fuel assemblies have increased uranium capacity – one TVS-2M assembly contains 7.6% more fuel material when compared to the UTVS fuel model. Longer fuel cycles enhance the economic efficiency of the plant, as reactors have to undergo stoppages and refuelling less frequently. The power plant needs to purchase less nuclear fuel, and also lower expenses in dealing with smaller amounts of spent nuclear fuel. The first reactor of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, located in Tamil Nadu, has been operating at the design power level of 1,000 MW since February 2016. The second power unit was connected to the national power grid on August 29, 2016. The master framework agreement with Rosatom for constructing the third and fourth units was signed in 2014. In June 2017, the engineering division of Rosatom State Corporation and NPCIL signed an agreement for constructing the fifth and sixth reactors during the third stage of the project. Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 15 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail Topics ht exclusive ht exclusive

Atommash, which is part of Atomenergomash or Rosatom’s machine building division, completed the welding of the steam generator heads with support components and 11,000 heat-exchange coils, according to a statement from the company.

The Russian side has not allowed problems related to the Ukraine crisis to affect the Kudankulam nuclear power project, and in June, Rosatom supplied the first batch of TVS-2M nuclear fuel to India that allowed the two functioning reactors at Kudankulam to increase their fuel cycle from 12 months to 18 months.

The steam generator is part of the heat exchange equipment used in a reactor facility and a “first safety class item”. The equipment is 14 metres long, more than four metres in diameter, and weighs 350 tonnes. Each nuclear power plant includes four steam generators.

Automatic welding of the steam generator heads is done at temperatures of 120 degrees Celsius to 250 degrees Celsius over seven days. Specialists perform local heat treatment of welds and a range of technical inspections, including hydraulic tests and eddy-current test of heat-exchange tubes.

In July, the LUCH Scientific Production Association, also part of the Rosatom State Corporation, signed an agreement to supply advanced thermocouples for four reactors at Kudankulam. The new sensors, designed for the thermal control of the nuclear power plant equipment, replaced old ones in the internal reactor control systems of the first two reactors.

The ZiO-Podolsk JSC, which too is part of the machine-building division of Rosatom, manufactured heat-exchanging apparatus for the fifth reactor in Kudankulam in June.

However, the most significant development in recent months was the supply in June of the first batch of TVS-2M nuclear fuel for the Kudankulam plant, which is powered by VVER-1000 reactors. This helped fulfil an agreement with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) on implementing a comprehensive engineering project, including the introduction of TVS-2M nuclear fuel and extending the fuel cycle from 12 months to 18 months for the two functioning reactors.

Compared to the older UTVS fuel model, which was supplied by Russia for the Kudankulam plant, TVS-2M fuel assemblies have several advantages that make them more reliable and cost-efficient.

The TVS-2M fuel assemblies are more robust, which helps them retain their geometry in the reactor core, and their components make them more vibration-resistant. The new fuel assemblies have increased uranium capacity – one TVS-2M assembly contains 7.6% more fuel material when compared to the UTVS fuel model.

Longer fuel cycles enhance the economic efficiency of the plant, as reactors have to undergo stoppages and refuelling less frequently. The power plant needs to purchase less nuclear fuel, and also lower expenses in dealing with smaller amounts of spent nuclear fuel.

The first reactor of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, located in Tamil Nadu, has been operating at the design power level of 1,000 MW since February 2016. The second power unit was connected to the national power grid on August 29, 2016.

The master framework agreement with Rosatom for constructing the third and fourth units was signed in 2014. In June 2017, the engineering division of Rosatom State Corporation and NPCIL signed an agreement for constructing the fifth and sixth reactors during the third stage of the project.

Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail

On throne during Charles III's accession, Queen’s symbol 'EIIR': What it means

As King Charles III was officially proclaimed Britain's monarch on Saturday in a historic ceremony at St. James' Palace, Queen's royal cypher EIIR was seen on the throne of the new king. The royal cypher will change as the new king takes on the title 'King Charles III'. Elizabeth Regina meaning queen in Latin and the II is to mark that Elizabeth II's was Elizabeth II. Charles III Rex means king in Latin.

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral to be a public holiday, approves Charles III

King Charles III, who was officially proclaimed as Britain's new monarch on Saturday, has approved an order declaring day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral as a public holiday. Queen Elizabeth II was once described by her grandson Harry as “the nation's grandmother”. Charles III vowed to follow mother's 'inspiring example' in a personal declaration at the accession ceremony. This was the first ever public telecast of the proclamation ceremony of Britain's monarch.

In Photos: Accession ceremony of King Charles III, the new monarch of Britain

Crowds cheered “hip, hip, hurrah” as the Garter King of Arms, read out the official proclamation of Charles III as Britain's new King from a balcony above London's St James's Palace on Saturday. "Three cheers for Majesty the King," the herald in England shouted from the balcony. The accession council, televised for the first time, recognized the new king's sovereignty.

Hong Kong speech therapists jailed for 19 months over seditious children's books

Five Hong Kong speech therapists were sentenced on Saturday to 19 months in jail for conspiracy to publish seditious children's books, featuring cartoons of sheep and wolves that prosecutors had deemed anti-government. District Court Judge Kwok Wai Kin said Lorie Lai, Melody Yeung, Sidney Ng, Samuel Chan and Marco Fong, aged 26 to 29 had to be punished "not because of the publication or the words but because of their harm or the risk of harm to the minds of children", saying the works sowed seeds of "instability".

“Deeply aware" of duties, Britain's monarch Charles says: Read full speech here

King Charles III made his declaration at St James's Palace on Saturday after being proclaimed the monarch of Britain following his mother Queen Elizabeth II's death on Thursday. Paying tribute to his mother, King Charles said that he was deeply aware of the "great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of Sovereignty which have now passed to me."

Personalise your news feed. Follow trending topics