A simulator for training employees of the station’s electric workshop has been delivered to the construction site of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction in Türkiye. The simulator, manufactured by the All-Russian Research Institute for the Operation of Nuclear Power Plants (VNIIAES – part Rosatom’s nuclear utility Rosenergoatom), is intended for the training in maintenance and repair operations of electrical equipment. The hardware complex of the simulator includes real cells of the electrical equipment. During plant operation, such equipment operates at a voltage of 0.4 kilovolts. The simulator sections are completely identical to the station’s own electrical equipment, but its power circuits use a voltage safer for personnel.
“We are working as planned to equip this unique, first training centre in Türkiye for nuclear power plant operational personnel,” said Sergei Butskikh, First Deputy General Director of project company Akkuyu Nukleer JSC and Director of NPP construction. “Last year, when the centre began its work, it was equipped with a full-scale simulator of a unit control room, at which we began training specialists in managing the equipment of the reactor and turbine workshops.” He added: “Practical training on simulators is mandatory for all NPP operational personnel. The simulator for training Akkuyu personnel on electrical equipment manufactured specifically for the plant will allow us to improve the qualifications of the electric workshop employees.”
The Akkuyu Training Centre was launched in 2023 on the anniversary of the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye. As well as a simulator of the control room it included an analytical simulator and a pre-shipment training hall. To date, six shifts in the plant operators been trained in the centre.
In addition, Russia’s TD Group have delivered a desalination plant to the Akkuyu NPP. TD Group specialists, working under contract to Asos Process Engineering, adapted the design documentation. This included terms of reference, programs and test methods, drawings, repair and maintenance documentation, and calculations for earthquake resistance. The company’s experts accompanied their colleagues in the manufacture and factory testing of equipment, and conducted quality control. ASOS praised the results of TD Group, and subsequently recruited its specialists to work on other projects.
Akkuyu, Türkiye’s first NPP, will eventually host four Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors. The pouring of first concrete for unit 1 took place in April 2018, for unit 2 in June 2020, for unit 3 in March 2021, and for unit 4 in July 2022. Rosatom is constructing the reactors according to a build-own-operate model. Sources close to Rosatom confirmed to NEI that unit 1 should be ready for start-up in April 2025.
