Nuclear power plant unit 1 at Rooppur successfully undergoes cold and hot functional assessments
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Moves Closer to Commissioning with Steam Pipeline Blowdown
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bangladesh has taken a significant step forward in its commissioning process, as the fresh steam pipelines in the turbine compartment of Unit 1 have been blowdown. According to a press release issued today, this procedure is part of the next phase of commissioning works and brings the power unit one step closer to launching and connecting to the national power grid.
The blowdown was carried out to clean the pipelines from possible residual moisture, process contaminants, and mechanical particles. It was performed at a pressure of 2.0 MPa and a temperature of 200 °C. The results of the commissioning activities show that the steam pipelines at Unit 1 of Rooppur NPP are now ready to supply steam to the turbine.
Following the completion of the cold and hot functional tests at Unit 1, the next stage involves a second phase of blowdown of the steam pipelines using a higher volume of fresh steam. This procedure serves to provide final cleaning of the main steam lines and to enable fine-tuning of the equipment performance under conditions closely simulating full-scale operation or near-operational load.
After this repeated blowdown and pipeline cleaning, the Unit 1 commissioning process will progress towards fresh fuel loading, expected to begin around early November 2025. Fuel loading will mark the final countdown to the commissioning and startup of Bangladesh’s first nuclear power reactor, leading ultimately to the launching (start-up) of Unit 1 and its connection to the national power grid.
The Rooppur NPP, built according to the latest Russian VVER-1200 design, is expected to meet up to 10% of the present energy demand of Bangladesh. The plant's Vice-President for Projects in Bangladesh, Alexey Deiry, stated that the completion of this stage of commissioning works is a step towards the launching of power unit No 1 and its subsequent connection to the power grid. He also added that the Rooppur NPP will supply Bangladesh with clean energy for decades to come.
The tests were accompanied by noise, which was deemed safe for the public. This phased approach ensures the turbine and steam systems are fully cleared, validated, and optimized prior to introducing nuclear fuel and commencing power generation. The Rooppur NPP is a nuclear power plant located in Bangladesh, and its operations are mandatory before conducting further operations to ensure reliable and safe operation of the turbine equipment during NPP operation.
- With the steam pipeline blowdown signifying the readiness of the steam pipelines at Unit 1, it is anticipated that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, a key contributor to Bangladesh's energy sector, will soon secure funding from the finance industry for its operations.
- As the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant moves closer to commissioning with the steam pipeline blowdown, it is crucial to ensure that its operations comply with industry standards for safe and efficient energy production, demonstrating the plant's commitment to providing clean energy for decades to come.
