The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), located in Tamil Nadu, India, recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully installing the core catcher beneath Power Unit No. 5. The core catcher is an essential component of the safety system designed to handle severe accidents.
Ensuring Safety with the Core Catcher:
The core catcher, also known as the core melt localisation device (CMLD), plays a critical role in localizing and cooling the molten core material in the event of a meltdown accident. It is a cone-shaped metal structure weighing approximately 800 tonnes. The core catcher is designed with a double-walled structure, with the gap between the walls filled with ferric and aluminium oxide granules (FAOG).
Functionality of the Core Catcher:
Within the core catcher, there is a ceramic mixture known as the “sacrificial material.” This mixture includes ferric oxide and aluminium oxide and acts as a barrier to prevent the corium, the molten core material, from trickling through. Additionally, the sacrificial material serves as a cooling mechanism, enhancing the overall safety of the nuclear power plant.
Importance of the Core Catcher:
The core catcher device is installed at the bottom of the nuclear station’s protective shell. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the protective shell and minimize the release of radioactive emissions into the environment during severe accidents. By localizing and cooling the molten core material, the core catcher significantly contributes to mitigating the potential impact of a meltdown accident.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant:
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is India’s largest nuclear power station, located in Koodankulam, Tamil Nadu. It is a collaborative project between India and Russia, with Atomstroyexport, the Russian state company, and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) as the key stakeholders.
Plant Specifications:
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is designed to have a total of six VVER-1000 reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW. Once completed, the power plant will have an installed capacity of 6,000 MW, making it a significant contributor to India’s energy generation.
Collaboration and Construction:
The construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is carried out under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed in 1988 between India and Russia. Subsequent agreements in 1998 and 2008 further strengthened the collaboration between the two nations. Atomstroyexport, with its expertise in nuclear technology, has played a crucial role in constructing the power plant.
Enhanced Safety Measures:
The successful installation of the core catcher at KKNPP reflects the commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety in nuclear power generation. The core catcher provides an added layer of protection, reinforcing the safety protocols of the power plant. This achievement highlights the continuous efforts to enhance safety measures and minimize the potential impact of severe accidents.
