Curtiss-Wright Flow Control - EMD and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC say they are continuing testing of the world's largest canned-motor reactor coolant pump (RCP) for the AP1000.
During testing on 13 May, testing of the AP1000 pressurized water reactor RCP was successfully completed in ambient operating conditions. On Saturday, 15 May testing was successfully performed at normal operating temperatures and pressures. All test objectives for both tests were met. The tests were completed ahead of schedule, and witnessed by representatives of China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, owners of the four AP1000 units currently being constructed in China.
These tests are important steps in the final qualification process of the AP1000 RCP. Curtiss-Wright EMD and Westinghouse will complete final qualification testing of the RCP over the next 12 months.
About the RCPs
Manufactured by Curtiss-Wright Flow Control EMD the AP1000 RCPs are high-inertia pumps, low-maintenance, hermetically sealed canned-motor pumps, which circulate the reactor coolant through the reactor core, loop piping, and steam generators. Curtiss-Wright EMD is a leading designer/builder of reactor coolant pumps, having produced more than 350 pumps for the existing commercial nuclear reactor fleet.
Sixteen RCPs for the four Chinese AP1000 reactors will be built in the Western Pennsylvania plant in the USA. The Curtiss-Wright EMD factory is one of over a dozen US factories that will be directly involved in exporting products to the AP1000 projects in China.
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