The testing incorporated the lessons learned from the previous three units and is a crucial step towards the completion of Unit 4, the final unit of the Barakah station.
As a part of the testing, the pressure inside Unit 4’s systems was increased to 25% above what will be normal operating pressure.
Before testing began, Unit 4’s nuclear steam supply systems were flushed with demineralised water and the reactor pressure vessel head and reactor coolant pump seals were installed. During testing, the welds, joints, pipes and components of the reactor coolant system and associated high-pressure systems were verified.
Enec, with plant supplier Korea Electric Power Corporation, is building four APR-1400 units at the $24.4bn Barakah station.
Earlier this month Enec chief executive Mohammed Al Hammadi said operations at the Barakah site were on schedule despite the coronavirus pandemic, with first criticality at Unit 1 expected “very soon”.
Overall construction of the four units is more than 94% complete. Unit 1 is complete and fuel was loaded in March. Unit 2 is more than 95% complete, Unit 3 is more than 92% and Unit 4 is more than 84%.
