AP1000 nuclear plant reactor coolant pump receives full qualifications

Westinghouse Electric Company, Curtiss-Wright Corp, and State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC) of China have successfully completed the final performance testing and post-test inspections of the lead AP1000 plant reactor coolant pump (RCP).

Throughout the testing, the reactor coolant pump performance met the design requirements which are necessary to support safe and reliable AP1000 plant operation.

The achievement will result in the shipment of the first and second Sanmen Unit 1 RCPs for arrival on site by 31 Dec., 2015, to support key upcoming project milestones at Sanmen Unit 1, the world’s first AP1000 plant.

Successful test completion also will lead to fabrication and delivery of the remaining two reactor coolant pumps for Sanmen Unit 1, and the reactor coolant pumps for the seven additional AP1000 units currently under construction in China and the US.

The final performance testing has verified successful reactor coolant pump operation during a full range of AP1000 plant operating conditions for more than 1,600 total hours, including more than 600 start-and-stop cycles.

Extensive China regulator reviews and detailed post-test inspections are now complete and confirmed that the reactor coolant pump performed as designed during the final performance testing.

Curtiss-Wright conducted the testing and inspection at its Electro-Mechanical Division (EMD) facility in Cheswick, Pennsylvania.