Vital coolant pump passes demanding tests
HPC’s first reactor coolant pump has successfully passed demanding tests following its manufacture. The 128-tonne pump, which is 10 metres high was manufactured by Framatome at their Jeumont facility in France. It is one of four pumps per unit and responsible for circulating water around the reactor’s ‘primary circuit’. The first ‘full flow test’ was the culmination of years of work, with the complex test-taking over four weeks to complete. This work paves the way for the manufacture and testing of the remainder of pumps destined for HPC. It is anticipated that the first pumps will be shipped to site next year. When installed and running the pumps will be able to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in just 80 seconds!
Works continues on Combwich Wharf upgrade
Some of the biggest, heaviest and tallest parts destined for Hinkley Point C will be carried to site by sea rather than on lorries. To make this possible, the team has been working to upgrade Combwich Wharf to allow it to handle pieces of equipment too big to be transported easily by road. Soon, the first of these large loads will be transported using special barges with a deck-carrying capacity of around 3,000 tonnes. As part of the refurbishment, a wooden acoustic fence is being erected around the site to help reduce any increase in noise.
Taken from Plugged In and HPC Community News
