Transportation airlock installed at Akkuyu NPP Unit No. 1

It is designed for reactor maintenance, as well as loading and unloading of nuclear fuel.

May 2, 2024, Büyükeceli, Türkiye - A transportation airlock has been installed into the design position at Akkuyu NPP Unit No. 1. This new process component will ensure insulation of inner rooms from the ambient environment, and safe transportation of nuclear materials and equipment of the reactor compartment.

The product was installed using a caterpillar crane.

"We have completed yet another important process operation and are one step closer to the completion of containment installation in the reactor building of Power Unit No. 1. It is a result of well-coordinated and labour-intensive work of Russian and Turkish specialists of the Akkuyu NPP project. In the coming days, we are going to start stressing the containment prestressing system. It comprises particularly strong metal ropes which exponentially improve the strength of the reactor's inner containment," explained Sergei Butckikh, First Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC - Director of Akkuyu NPP under Construction.

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The transportation airlock is a heavy and large-sized equipment being a 14-meter cylindrical chamber that is closed from both sides. An alternating opening of the gates creates conditions that ensure that the reactor compartment is sealed. The weight and diameter of the housing is 260 tons and 7 meters, respectively. Through the transportation airlock Akkuyu NPP specialists will be able to deliver the high-tech equipment that is required for operation and maintenance of the reactor plant of Unit No. 1, such as steam generators, upper reactor unit, reactor coolant pump, primary circuit pipelines and other products. During the NPP operation, containers with spent nuclear fuel, fresh fuel casks and transport-and-handling equipment will pass through the airlock. The product is equipped with a special access control system to ensure that only the authorized personnel could enter the inner rooms. Ionizing radiation detectors are also installed inside to maintain reliable and safe operation. The airlock can be used for maintenance and repair of the equipment, which will allow to save money and ensure more efficient operation of Akkuyu NPP.

Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Turkey. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each NPP power unit will be 1200 MW. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.