Main Circulation Pipes Finished Ahead Of Schedule At Belarusian-1

24 Aug (NucNet): The welding of the main circulation pipeline for Unit 1 of Belarusian nuclear power station has been completed slightly ahead of schedule, said Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, which is in charge of the project. The welding began on 4 June 2017 and was completed on 21 August 2017, lasting 78 days instead of the scheduled 84, a statement said. The pipeline is more than 130 metres long and connects the reactor pressure vessel with the steam generators and the reactor coolant pumps, Rosatom said. It is designed to circulate cooling water at a temperature of 350 degrees under a pressure of 17.6 megapascals. There are two 1,109-MW Russian VVER-1200 reactor units under construction at the Belarusian nuclear station in Ostrovets near the border with Lithuania. Construction of Unit 1 began in November 2013 and of Unit 2 in April 2014.