Tirunelveli: Unit 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) was test-synchronised with the southern power grid at 11.17 am on Monday, according to the KKNPP site director. Mr R.S. Sundar explained that the synchronisation of the unit marked the generation of electricity and its supply to the power grid.
The 1,000MW second unit of KKNPP, which attained criticality 49 days ago on July 10 at 20.56 hours, underwent various reactor physics experiments at low power under the supervision of experts from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russian specialists, following which the regulatory body has given approved the unit for first synchronisation with the southern grid,” said R.S. Sundar.
Commencing generation at 60MW power generation, the second unit was steadily raised to 245MW by Monday evening. The site director, however, added that the unit which successfully synchronised with power grid would be shut down after few days of operation for mandatory inspection of turbine generator and power generation would be increased in a phased manner to 50 percent, 75 percent, 90 percent and to the maximum after step by step clearances of AERB.
This is the country's 22nd reactor and the second largest one with 1,000MW capacity in India. Having the first unit of 1,000MW successfully under operation continuously for 189 days producing a total of 11,269 million units, Kudankulam site would hold the distinction of having two single largest power generation units in India,” the site director said.
The two Russian designed reactors at KKNPP incorporate enhanced safety features ensuring the highest level of safety in line with the current international standards. Belonging to generation III plus, the two reactors at Kudankulam have a gamut of active and passive safety systems like passive heat removal system (PHRS) and Hydrogen Re-combiners, core catcher, Hydro accumulates and Quick Boron Injection System (QBIS).
