Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom subsidiary Luch Scientific Production Association has signed an agreement to supply thermocouples for four units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (NPP) in India, according to a Rosatom release.
Rosatom is the equipment supplier and technical consultant for the KNPP being operated by the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The KNPP units 1 and 2 of 1,000 MW capacity each were commissioned in 2013 and 2017, respectively. As per an intergovernmental agreement, Rosatom is similarly collaborating in the construction of four more units at Kudankulam – 3, 4, 5 and 6 – of 1,000 MW capacity each.
A Rosatom statement earlier this week described the high-accuracy resistance thermocouples as a critical part of the nuclear reactor control system, ensuring safe operation of the equipment.
“New sensors designed for thermal control of NPP process equipment will replace the old ones in the internal reactor control systems of the (KNPP) units 1 and 2”, the statement said.
“These thermocouples are primary temperature measuring transducers designed to measure the temperature of the coolant in the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ string of the main circulation pipeline under conditions of external influencing factors”, it said.
Luch will supply a total of 200 resistance thermocouple units labelled TSPT 5963. “This modification is characterized by high stability of operation and has metrological characteristics at the level of leading world manufacturers”, the statement added.
According to Luch’s chief metrologist, Konstantin Kabachny, the thermocouples are produced in stainless steel cases with fastening and sealing units, and provided with polyamide or metal heads, as well as with flexible extension cables.
