The calandria vessel, a key component for unit 7 of India's Rajastan atomic power plant (RAPP) has arrived at the construction site after a three-and-a-half month journey. RAPP 7, an indigenously designed 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactor has been under construction for two years.
The 40-ton stainless steel calandria vessel is a cylindrical tank (diameter 7.8 meters) that will contain the moderator (heavy water) and the pressure tubes that will contain nuclear fuel. It was manufactured indigenously by M/s Godjej, according to Nuclear Power Corporation of India.
The calandria vessel travelled by sea from Mumbai to the port of Kandla in Gujarat, western India completing its journey by road. It arrived at the RAPP 7&8 construction site in the early afternoon of 10 July, after a 109 day journey, NPCIL said.
Construction began on RAPP 7, an indigenously designed pressurized water reactor (PHWR), in July 2011. The reactor is expected to enter commercial operation in June 2016, according to NPCIL's website.
Photo: Calandria vessel arrives on site (Source: NPCIL)
