Equipment for PWR- and BWR-type nuclear power plants
For more than a quarter of a century, we have also operated in the market of PWR and BWR-type nuclear power plants. Our entry into this market required the necessary certifications to be obtained, such as ISO, ASME, DIN, CEFRI and others. We have gradually worked our way to the role of a qualified supplier of nuclear equipment to the main contractors and operators of nuclear power plants in Europe, the USA and the Far East. The company is able to manufacture equipment according to the customer’s documentation as well as develop and manufacture entirely new equipment based on a basic design assignment.
PWR and BWR reactor internal parts
Production of reactor internals for nuclear power plants using PWR (pressurized water reactors) and BWR (boiling water reactors) represents the main scope of equipment supplies by ŠKODA JS a.s. In 1999, we supplied two sets of modernized boiling water reactor (BWR) internal parts for the Swedish Forsmark nuclear power plant. The equipment included the core support grid and shroud for each unit. These contracts were part of a program for improvements in the safety and effectiveness of BWR nuclear power plants.
Similarly, in 2004 and 2005, two sets of reactor internal equipment, specifically reactor steam dryers, were produced for two units of the Finnish Olkiluoto BWR nuclear power plant.
An important project for ŠKODA JS was the manufacture of internal parts and a support ring for a newly constructed pressurized water EPR-type reactor (III+ generation pressurized water reactor) at the Olkiluoto NPP, Finland. The customer, Areva NP, now FRAMATOME, also ordered a reactor internal parts handling device for the same project (supplied in 2008–2010). Based on good references from this project, ŠKODA JS concluded another contract with the same customer for the manufacture of EPR reactor internal parts for Unit 1 of the newly constructed Taishan NPP, China (supplied in 2012).
In 1993, ŠKODA JS manufactured a reactor pressure vessel support ring for Unit 1 of the French Civaux NPP, intended for the installation of the reactor in the concrete cavity. The support ring was a thick-walled welded structure weighing 46 tons.
In 2018, ŠKODA JS concluded a contract with the French company FRAMATOME for the production and supply of two sets of pressure vessel internals for the 1600 MW EPR reactor at the Hinkley Point C NPP in Somerset, UK. The delivery includes in particular: core barrel, heavy reflector and upper internals (similar to the upper block of VVER 1000 reactor).
Flange joint stud tensioners
A stud tensioner is a fully automated device that operates the main flange joint of the reactor, meeting extreme requirements for accuracy, speed and functional reliability.
Based on the contract concluded with the main contractor of the Lungmen project, GE Nuclear Energy, ŠKODA JS a.s. designed, manufactured and supplied two sets of reactor main flange joint stud tensioners to the newly constructed Lungmen nuclear power plant in Taiwan. The device is designed for seismic areas, temperatures up to 40 °C and relative humidity of 95%.
Special structures
Apart from the aforementioned reactor parts, ŠKODA JS develops and produces other equipment for nuclear power plants with PWR- and BWR-type reactors.
In 2000, four hydrogen recombiners were supplied to the Lungmen nuclear power plant in Taiwan (ABWR).
In 2002, a heat exchanger for the spent fuel storage pool was supplied to the Krsko nuclear power plant in Slovenia. This device was produced according to the ASME Code, Section III.
Equipment for the transport of fuel
Over the 25 years of our activities in the area of PWR and BWR reactors, we have made a name for ourselves as a reliable supplier capable of designing, manufacturing and commissioning highly sophisticated nuclear equipment.
After a successful audit, ŠKODA JS a.s. became a qualified supplier for Électricité de France (EDF), with which it concluded a contract for the supply of a spent fuel cask transfer facility for the newly constructed Unit 3 of the EPR-type Flamanville NPP in France. The equipment was handed over to the customer in 2017 and the scope of supply included equipment design, detail design, manufacture, on-site installation and commissioning.
The history of the project
1991reconstruction of 13 sets of filters of the main condenser (BWR) for the Olkiluoto NPP, Finland
1993a PWR reactor pressure vessel support ring produced and supplied to our French customer FRAMATOME ANP (end user Civaux 1 NPP, France)
1999delivery of BWR reactor internal parts – 2 sets (core support grid and shroud) for ABB Atom (end user Forsmark NPP, Sweden)
2002delivery of an ABWR reactor main flange joint stud tensioner of our own design intended for the Lungmen NPP, Taiwan
2006BWR reactor core locking device intended for the ISAR NPP, Germany
2008an EPR reactor pressure vessel support ring for the Olkiluoto NPP, Finland
2010an EPR reactor internal parts handling device for the Olkiluoto NPP, Finland
2010EPR reactor internal parts for the Olkiluoto NPP, Finland
2012EPR reactor internal parts for the Taishan NPP, China
2017proprietary equipment for the transfer of spent nuclear fuel casks for the Flamanville NPP, France
2018contract concluded for the production and supply of two sets of pressure vessel internals for the 1600 MW EPR reactor at the Hinkley Point C NPP