The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced the successful installation completion of Unit 3 Reactor Vessel (RV) at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE
According to ENEC, the installation is a critical step in the continued progress and delivery of the country’s third nuclear energy unit and follows the successful installation of the Barakah Unit 2 RV in 2015 and the Unit 1 RV in 2014. The reactor vessel is one of the most important features and largest components in a nuclear energy plant.
Weighing over 400 tonnes and measuring almost 15 metres in height, the RV will eventually contain the controlled nuclear reaction that will generate the safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy that will feed into the UAE grid. It is also one of the many defence-in-depth barriers, ensuring the safety of nuclear energy plants.
ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said, “The safe and successful installation of ENEC’s third reactor vessel is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. All teams involved have worked to the highest standards of safety and quality and I would like to personally thank the KEPCO and Doosan teams for their commitment to the Barakah project’s development.
“ENEC is committed to delivering a world-class nuclear energy programme and as we move from construction through to operations we continue to improve, particularly in the overall project management.”
He added that safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy has an important role to play in the future of the UAE.
Reactor vessels consist of a reactor vessel body and reactor vessel head. The vessel body is the largest component and is designed to contain the fuel assembly, coolant, and fittings to support coolant flow and support structures. The vessel head is attached to the top of the reactor vessel body and contains penetrations, which are driving mechanisms that allow the control rods to lower into the vessel and attach to the fuel assembly, controlling or stopping the nuclear reaction when necessary.
ENEC also revealed that the project at Barakah is progressing steadily. Overall, construction of Units 1 to 4 is now more than 65 per cent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid, pending regulatory reviews and licensing.
When the four reactors are completed, the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme will provide approximately 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12mn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
