OREANDA-NEWS. Unit 2 of the Philippsburg power plant (KKP 2) was disconnected from the network last Saturday for its annual inspection, as planned. During the overhaul, inspection and maintenance work is being conducted at the plant, nuclear fuel rods are being replaced, and several technical projects are to be implemented. The operator, EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK), is thereby ensuring that the plant is kept completely up-to-date in technological terms, with a high safety and security level.

"Our extensive programme for this overhaul shows that the secure operation of KKP 2 is our top priority. The same is true for Unit II in Neckarwestheim. Both plants continue to play an important role for reliable and climate-compatible electricity supplies in Baden-Württemberg," notes Jörg Michels, Chairman of the EnKK Management and Technical Managing Director of the Philippsburg nuclear power plant. "In Obrigheim we are also showing that we can safely decommission nuclear power plants, and we are making corresponding preparations for Philippsburg and Neckarwestheim. With this extensive know-how in operation and post-operation, as well as in the shutdown and decommissioning of nuclear power plants, we are making a contribution to the Energiewende."

Around 1,200 additional specialists to support the extensive maintenance work

"We have planned a total of around 4,300 individual activities this year, most of which can only be performed when the plant is shut down," reports Thomas Franke, head of the Unit 2 plant. "Along with numerous routine works, we are also carrying out several maintenance measures on large-scale components. These include the basic overhauling of one of the three feedwater pumps. Additionally, the motor of another of the three pumps will be inspected. An inspection is also being conducted on one of the four main coolant pumps. An eddy current test is being carried out on two of the four steam generators. A motor and pump inspection is being conducted on one of six main coolant pumps, and the motor is being replaced on another. One of the six main coolant pumps is also being inspected. Maintenance work is being conducted on the motors and generators of four of the eight emergency electricity supply units. Besides this, a transformer that was replaced last year and renewed by the manufacturer is being reinstalled in this overhaul. Around 1,200 additional staff from manufacturing and specialist companies will support our maintenance team in this work."

The restoration work will be conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy Industry of Baden-Württemberg, and will be accompanied by experts from the TÜV inspection group and KeTAG (Nuclear Technology Surveyors Working Group of Baden-Württemberg).

Unit 2 at the Philippsburg nuclear power plant is a pressurised water reactor with electric output of 1,468 megawatts. The plant was commissioned in 1984, and produced around 9 billion kWh of electricity in 2013.

EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK) operates Unit 2. EnKK stands for safety in operation and post-processing, as well as in the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear power plants in Baden-Württemberg. In Neckarwestheim und Philippsburg, EnKK produces electricity with one nuclear power plant respectively (GKN II and KKP 2). A further plant that no longer produces electricity is located at each of the sites (GKN I and KKP 1). EnKK is currently preparing for the decommissioning of these plants that have been shut down, and has already submitted the first applications to this end. At the Obrigheim site, the dismantling of the nuclear power plant located there, which commenced in 2008, is making good progress.