Rosatom has commenced evaluating changes in the properties of the reactor metal at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). This work is part of the preparation for extending the operational life of Unit 2 at the plant, according to a statement from the Russian state corporation.
Rosatom Service JSC (part of Rosatom’s power engineering division) has installed witness samples in the reactor vessel of Unit 2 at the Armenian NPP. This task was completed as part of the ongoing scheduled maintenance. The data collected will be used to determine whether the operational life of the unit can be extended by an additional 10 years, until 2036.
The monitoring of changes in the actual properties of the metal (such as strength, brittleness, and others) is conducted using special samples made from metal identical to the reactor vessel. These samples are installed in the reactor vessel within special containers. As the nuclear plant operates, these samples are periodically removed for analysis in laboratory conditions. The extraction of samples at the Armenian NPP for research purposes will begin in 2025 and will occur annually.
In 2021, Rosatom Service JSC and Rosatom’s industry institutes performed an annealing of the reactor vessel for Unit 2 at the Armenian NPP, which restored 85% of the metal’s properties and ensured its continued operation. The current task for the Armenian NPP is to extend the operational life of Unit 2 by another 10 years, until 2036.
