Recently in Sarcophagus Category
On June 27, 2008, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant leadership including General Director Igor Gramotkin, Technical Director Andriy Bilyk, Chief Engineer of the project management group for the planning of Shelter (Sarcophagus) activities Andrei Savin, and Deputy Technical Director for the Sarcophagus Vladimir Kashtanov took a tour of the structure.During the tour they examined industrial and local zones of the Sarcophagus, the platform under construction for the base of the New Safe Confinement (NSC), light roofing, and workplaces of project personnel.
Gramotkin noted the order and cleanliness at the Sarcophagus site and the cleared platform for the southern base of the NSC.
The leadership discussed current problems and immediate plans for the future, particularly work on the installation of new ventilation stacks (VT) and the dismantling of the current VT of the second turn (reactors 3 and 4). The dismantling of the ventilation stack is stipulated as part of the preliminary work of the NSC construction.
Due to high levels of radiation, the visit to the Sarcophagus roof was short, but the leadership did examine the quality of repair work. Roof workers typically work in pairs for 8-20 minutes at a time. New light roofing sheets are fastened with screws, using stand-alone devices that increase efficiency and reduce personal radiation doses.
Photos: ChAES
The “stabilization” consortium led by joint-stock company Atomstroyexport has completed work on the transfer of load from the roof the Sarcophagus to external support structures.
The transfer of 80% of the roof load above Reactor 4’s destroyed central hall from beams B1 and B2 to the external supports has increased the safety of the Sarcophagus. The work was completed in complex radiation conditions at appropriate levels of safety for the construction personnel, as established by the project contract.
Additional work is expected to begin in the near future.
The transfer of 80% of the roof load above Reactor 4’s destroyed central hall from beams B1 and B2 to the external supports has increased the safety of the Sarcophagus. The work was completed in complex radiation conditions at appropriate levels of safety for the construction personnel, as established by the project contract.
Additional work is expected to begin in the near future.
At the Chernobyl Nulcear Plant, personnel of the contractor UTEM recently participated in a two-day training program designed to teach them appropriate skills for repairing part of the Sarcophagus' roof. The training, conducted by Yuri Pasechnikova and Oleg Mihnevicha (from ChAES), involved 20 contractors. The employees were taught how to improve the consistency of fastening the new roofing material and how to use special power tools. Techniques for using personal protective equipment was also discussed.Physical work on the actual roof is scheduled to begin May 20 and be completed within two months. These roofing repairs are designed to:
- Reduce the amount of rainfall currently entering the Sarcophagus' interior
- Decrease the potential outflow of radioactive aerosols into the environment
Photo - courtesy of ChAES
Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station General Director Igor Gramotkin announced on April 23, 2008 that work has been completed on the reinforcement of the original Sarcophagus, which was hastily built following the 1986 accident at the plant's Reactor 4. Gramotkin stated that the structure can now withstand forces from an earthquake registering up to 6.0 on the Richter scale.
Another contract was signed on April 3 by the administration of the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station. This contract with the Ukrainian company Yutem («ЮТЭМ») is to perform additional on site work in preparation for construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC). The Chief Engineer of this project (POM) is Andrey Savin.This aim of this venture is to remove all above-ground structures that currently exist within the area that will be affected by NSC construction. Any foundation structures located at the southern and northern extent of the current Sarcophagus will also be removed. Included in this effort will be the removal of the foundation used for the installation and support of the crane used to build the original Sarcophagus in 1986-1987.
Approximately 30 thousand cubic meters of reinforced concrete are expected to be cleared away. If workers encounter any highly radioactive materials during the course of this work, extraction, transport and disposal will be handled by the appropriate divisions of the Chernobyl AES.
Physical work for clearing the area is scheduled to begin in September 2008, with the digging of NSC foundation areas to start in November. All work under this contract is expected to be complete by the end of 2009.
Photo courtesy of Chernobyl AES
According to the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station's Information Department, by April 25, 2008, 80% of the load carried by beams B1 and B2 in the original Sarcophagus will be transferred to newer external supports. Repairs to the structure's roof are expected to be completed this summer.
Following the completion of the above work, preparations for the physical construction of the base for the New Safe Confinement can begin. Chernobyl Plant Director Igor Gramotkin hopes that work connected with the New Safe Confinement will not only go according to plan, but even proceed ahead of schedule.
The current plan is for physical construction of the New Safe Confinement to begin in April 2009.
Following the completion of the above work, preparations for the physical construction of the base for the New Safe Confinement can begin. Chernobyl Plant Director Igor Gramotkin hopes that work connected with the New Safe Confinement will not only go according to plan, but even proceed ahead of schedule.
The current plan is for physical construction of the New Safe Confinement to begin in April 2009.
Here are two more videos from CBS News covering the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster:
Chernobyl's Abandoned City (1:11)
Sealing Chernobyl's Reactor #4 (3:10)
Chernobyl's Abandoned City (1:11)
Sealing Chernobyl's Reactor #4 (3:10)
Russian nuclear power plant construction company Atomstroyexport has begun work on the next phase of stabilization at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. The purpose of this project is to reinforce the badly-worn roof of the aging cement Sarcophagus covering Reactor 4. This work will be paid for by the international Chernobyl Shelter Fund, comprised of 28 countries including the G8 nations.
Construction of the New Safe Confinement structure by France's Novarka is still scheduled to begin this spring.
Construction of the New Safe Confinement structure by France's Novarka is still scheduled to begin this spring.
The administration of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant signed a new contract on January 10, 2008 to continue stabilization efforts on the existing Sarcophagus. Contract SIP 07-1-00 covers repairs to the Sarcophagus roof, installation of physical protection systems, and the reinforcement of supporting beams.
The project's contractor is the Stabilization Consortium, led by Russia's Atomstroyexport, and includes Ukraine's YUTEM-Engineering and Atomenergostroyproekt Institute. The project moderator is the International Chernobyl Shelter FUnd, and project funding will come from the G8 and European Union countries. Over $1 billion for the project has already been collected by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The Sarcophagus' 20 year expected lifespan has already been extended due to previous stabilization efforts. Over the past three years, builders have used 750 tons of metal, 245 tons of reinforced steel and falsework, and 4,500 tons of reinforced concrete for the foundation to strengthen the structure.
The Sarcophagus, built hastily after the accident in 1986, was the quicker to construct and less costly of two considered options. Remote-control methods used during construction prevented installation of the concrete panels at the required tightness, leaving behind unfilled gaps. Currently, the total area of these cracks has reach almost 1,000 square meters, allowing up to 2,000 cubic meters of rain and melted snow inside the structure each year. This moisture can spread radioactive material, and in a worst-case scenario, could produce a runaway nuclear reaction. These cracks also allow small amounts of radiation to continue escaping into the atmosphere.
This new project will provide additional time for the construction of the New Safe confinement, an arch-shaped structure with an expected lifespan of 100 years, that will ultimately cover the radioactive remains of Reactor 4.
The project's contractor is the Stabilization Consortium, led by Russia's Atomstroyexport, and includes Ukraine's YUTEM-Engineering and Atomenergostroyproekt Institute. The project moderator is the International Chernobyl Shelter FUnd, and project funding will come from the G8 and European Union countries. Over $1 billion for the project has already been collected by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The Sarcophagus' 20 year expected lifespan has already been extended due to previous stabilization efforts. Over the past three years, builders have used 750 tons of metal, 245 tons of reinforced steel and falsework, and 4,500 tons of reinforced concrete for the foundation to strengthen the structure.
The Sarcophagus, built hastily after the accident in 1986, was the quicker to construct and less costly of two considered options. Remote-control methods used during construction prevented installation of the concrete panels at the required tightness, leaving behind unfilled gaps. Currently, the total area of these cracks has reach almost 1,000 square meters, allowing up to 2,000 cubic meters of rain and melted snow inside the structure each year. This moisture can spread radioactive material, and in a worst-case scenario, could produce a runaway nuclear reaction. These cracks also allow small amounts of radiation to continue escaping into the atmosphere.
This new project will provide additional time for the construction of the New Safe confinement, an arch-shaped structure with an expected lifespan of 100 years, that will ultimately cover the radioactive remains of Reactor 4.
If you would like to learn more about the planned construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, watch the following video. This short film also discusses how they will de-construct the original Sarcophagus once the NSC is in place. It's some fascinating technology!
