CHENNAI: Even though Russia is engaged in a war with Ukraine, Rosatom, the former's integrated nuclear energy company, continues to produce components for the 1,000 MW reactor being built in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu.

Rosatom's machine-building business, Petrozavodskmash, has begun producing guiding vanes for the housings of reactor coolant pump sets (RCPS) for the fifth unit at Kudankulam, according to the company.  Notably, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), India's atomic power plant operator, has two 1,000 MW units (Units 1 and 2) at Kudankulam, with four more (Units 3, 4, 5, and 6) under construction. All six units are made with Rosatom-supplied Russian technology and equipment.

The first guiding vane has already cleared the fitting-up and welding operations, according to Rosatom. The fit-up quality of the remaining three guide vanes was inspected, and Petrozavodskmash personnel began welding operations.

The guide vane refers to the internals of the RCPS and is made up of upper and lower discs with 13 guide blades welded between them. The guiding vane is designed to set the centrifugal direction of coolant flow inside the pump and must be tightly fixed in the pump casing. The RCPS housing is the first item in the safety class. Four RCP sets are included in the reactor plant equipment of one power unit.