Philippsburg Nuclear Power Station: Block 2 on line again after inspection

Karlsruhe. Block 2 of the Philippsburg Nuclear Power Station (KKP 2) has been on line again since yesterday evening (30 th June 2010) after its annual inspection. In the past few weeks, test and maintenance work, technical projects and the annual fuel element replacement have been completed. During the inspection, around 1,000 extra employees from manufacturing and specialist companies have supported the KKP inspection team. The total workforce completed more than 5,000 separate tasks.

"Our experts, together with the external specialists, have done a great job," reports Christoph Heil, technical director of the Philippsburg Nuclear Power Station. "Block 2 can now continue successful generating electricity. Consequently, our well-maintained plant, which satisfies the highest international standards, will continue to make an important contribution towards an environmentally-friendly, safe and reliable electricity supply. Around one quarter of the electricity consumed in Baden-Württemberg continues to come from Philippsburg – CO2-free and around the clock."

Successful implementation of the maintenance programme

"The annual routine works, as well as the additional technical projects, were all completed very professionally," explains Horst Janisch, Head of Block 2, and lists the main projects: "Among other things, we carried out an eddy current test on two of the four steam generators and a leak test on the reactor containment shell. A motor inspection was performed on two of the six main coolant pumps, as well as a pump inspection on one of the two inspected pumps. We also inspected the pump and engine of one of the three feed-water pumps and the engine on one of the three main condenser pumps. We also subjected scoops, fittings and casing on one of the three low pressure turbines to a routine examination. Structural and maintenance work was also undertaken on one of the six cooling water channels."

The inspection work was monitored by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Conservation and Transport, and was also accompanied by experts from TÜV and KeTAG (Kerntechnik-Gutachterarbeitsgemeinschaft Baden-Württemberg). After the work had been inspected, the Ministry approved the restart of the plant. During the inspection, the regulatory authority recorded one reportable event of the lowest reporting class. This event did not impact on the safety of the plant, the staff or the surrounding area.

Block 2 of the Philippsburg Nuclear Power Station is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1,468 megawatts. The plant was commissioned in 1984 and in 2009 it generated around eleven and a half billion kilowatt hours.

Block 2 is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK). EnKK operates the nuclear power stations in Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg, as well as the nuclear power station currently being decommissioned in Obrigheim. In mathematical terms, the sites at Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg generate around half of the electricity required by Baden-Württemberg.