Philippsburg nuclear power station: block 2 off the grid for annual revision
EnBW continues comprehensive modernisation management
Karlsruhe. Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power station (KKP 2) was disconnected from the grid last weekend to carry out a scheduled annual revision. In the coming weeks, testing and maintenance work, technical projects and the replacement of fuel elements will be carried out.
"With a production of around 11.8 billion kilowatts of electricity, Block 2 achieved the best result last year since starting operations and was therefore the fifth best facility in the world. Block 2 covers the electricity requirements of more than 3 million private households in Baden-Württemberg – that is more than 60 percent of all households in the state", explains Christoph Heil, Technical Director of the Philippsburg nuclear power station. "With this year's revision, we are continuing our comprehensive modernisation management in which we have already invested more than 600 billion Euros in Block 2 in Philippsburg alone."
1,200 additional specialists will be deployed for the revision
A total of around 4,100 individual tasks are planned for the revision. Alongside the annual routine work, several larger projects will also be implemented. Christoph Heil: "We are subjecting two of the four steam generators to an internal inspection and performing a pressure test on the high pressure feedwater heaters. A motor inspection will be performed on two of the six main cooling water pumps, and an additional pump inspection on one of the two. We will also be examining the motor of one of the three feed water pumps and one of the four main coolant pumps. There will also be construction and maintenance measures on one of the six cooling water channels." The nuclear power station will be supported by more than 1,200 additional employees from manufacturing and specialised companies for this extensive program.
The revision work will take place under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Industry and will be accompanied by ministry auditors from TÜV and KeTAG (Baden-Württemberg auditors consortium for nuclear technology).
Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power station is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1,468 megawatts. The facility went into operation in 1984. Block 2 is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK). EnKK operates the nuclear power stations Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg as well as the Obrigheim nuclear power station which is currently being taken out of service.