{"id":8064,"date":"2020-12-16T08:24:38","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T07:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sade-cgth.fr\/?p=8064"},"modified":"2021-05-27T14:16:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T12:16:16","slug":"back-up-water-supply-at-the-penly-and-paluel-nuclear-power-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sade-cgth.fr\/en\/blog\/geography\/africa-en\/back-up-water-supply-at-the-penly-and-paluel-nuclear-power-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Back-up water supply at the Penly and Paluel nuclear power plants\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1611732262721{margin-right: 20px !important;}”]Or how to build systems hoping that, just for once, they will never be needed\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Securing fuel cooling ponds, in case of pump prime loss, is a key component of our post-Fukushima operations. At Penly and Paluel, the Normandy Regional Division is building the main systems for the Backup Water Supplies (BWS) to tackle this major issue.<\/p>\n

One process<\/h2>\n

For both nuclear power plants, the BWS works in the same way. The process involves building capable infrastructure, irrespective of events (earthquake, flood, etc.) to route water – via a gravity system, i.e. using zero energy – from the existing basins to the reactor buildings where the ponds are located. This makes the systems (HDPE \u00f8160 PN25) fulfilling this emergency transfer function central to these security solutions.<\/p>\n

Large-scale systems<\/h2>\n

At Penly, two 1,200m parallel pipes, buried at an average depth of 1.30m, are set up using 12m tubes assembled using electro-fusion welded sleeves, i.e. a little more than 200 tubes for just as many welds (a total of 2,400m). At Paluel, four 930m-long parallel pipes are set up using the same process, i.e. installing more than three hundred and ten 12m tubes over a total distance of 3,720m.<\/p>\n

High structural standards<\/h2>\n

Given the sensitivity of this infrastructure, the tube welds are critical control points. So in addition to video inspection and 14-bar water-testing of the pipes, the welders and the welding method were pre-approved via decohesion testing.<\/p>\n

A trencher and 2 shifts at Penly<\/p>\n

Lying level with the site\u2019s main road, the worksite\u2019s laying rate has to be optimised. The selected option, which allows a rate of up to 144m\/day, involves:<\/p>\n