The polar crane supplied by Syzran Tyazhmash has been installed at unit 1 of the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Turkey, project company Akkuyu Nukleer has said. The installation operation was carried out using a Liebherr LR 13000 crane and took about four hours. Installation of the polar crane enables further work to take place on installation of the dome of the inner containment of the reactor compartment, as well as installation of process equipment.
The polar crane – an overhead crane with circular action – is one of the most important mechanisms of the reactor compartment, and a key component of the safety equipment. It will be used at all stages of the life cycle of a nuclear power plant. During the operation phase, it will carry out transportation and technical operations such as the loading and unloading nuclear fuel.
Upon completion of commissioning tests, the crane will be able to turn 360° along a circular rail track to perform operations at any point in the central hall of the reactor building. “The installation of the polar crane is one of the key events at unit 1. It is very important that the installation of the crane was completed in a timely manner,” said
Sergey Butskikh, First Deputy General Director of Akkuyu Nukleer and Director of the NPP under construction.
“This will allow us to follow the schedule for further installation operations in the reactor building. The assembly of crane structures is carried out in several stages and requires well-coordinated work. The best Turkish and Russian specialists are involved in the work. The crane is installed at a height of 38.5 metres,” he said. “The metal structures of the bridge of the polar crane weighing 282 tons have been installed paving the way for installation of additional elements. The total weight of the crane structures will be about 500 tons.”
The disassembled crane was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site in June. Once unloaded, its components were transported to the construction site.
Image: Part of Akkuyu 1's polar crane is lifted into place (courtesy of Akkuyu Nükleer)
