Philippsburg Nuclear Power Station: Block 2 Back on the Grid after Revision

Karlsruhe. Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power station (KKP 2) has been back on the grid since this night (Tuesday, 14 June 2011) after the annual revision. Testing and servicing work has been carried out in the past weeks, technical projects have been implemented and fuel elements have been replaced. During the revision, more than 1200 additional employees from manufacturing and specialised companies have supported the KKP revision crew. The whole team managed to complete more than 5100 individual tasks.

"Our Block 2 makes an important contribution to the supply protection and network stability and covers the electricity requirements of more than 3 million private households in Baden-Württemberg", explains Christoph Heil, Technical Director of the Philippsburg nuclear power station. "The very high technical standard of the facility, including in international comparison, was once again confirmed in the past weeks with several inspections at national and regional level. During the course of our comprehensive modernisation management, EnBW has already invested more than 600 million Euros in Block 2 since being taken into operation.

Successful implementation of the revision program

"We are very satisfied with the implementation of our revision program", reports Christoph Heil and explains some of the larger projects: "We have subjected two of the four steam generators to an internal inspection and performed a pressure test on the high pressure feedwater. A motor inspection was performed on two of the six main cooling water pumps, and an additional pump inspection on one of the two. We also examined the motor of one of the three feed water pumps and one of the four main coolant pumps. There were also construction and maintenance measures on one of the six cooling water channels".

The revision took place under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Industry

and was accompanied by auditors from TÜV and KeTAG (Baden-Württemberg auditors consortium for nuclear technology) on behalf of the Ministry. After approval of the work, the Ministry agreed to the facility being restarted. The supervisory authorities were notified of reportable incidents during the revision. All incidents were classified in the lowest report category and did not have any impacts on the safety of the facility, personnel and the environment. EnBW publishes reportable incidents on their website.

Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power station is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1468 megawatts. The facility went into operation in 1984.

Block 2 is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK). EnKK operates the nuclear power stations in Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg as well as the Obrigheim nuclear power station which is currently being taken out of service.