Results of preoperational inspection at unit 1 of Novovoronezh NPP II

A procedure [2], developed by experts of Politest Eddy-Current Testing Center Co. Ltd. and the Scientific and Technical Center for Emergency Engineering Operations at NPPs, a branch of JSC “Concern Rosenergoatom”, and used for the first time at a Russian NPP at the stage of preoperational incoming inspection for the base metal and weld state in components and pipelines at unit 1 of Novovoronezh NPP II using Politest-PG, an innovative system for automated eddy-current testing of the steam generator heat-exchange tubes at NPPs with VVER reactors, was employed to inspect the heat-exchange tubes for all steam generators. As the result of the test, the steam generator tubes were found to contain discontinuities with a maximum depth of up to 10% of the rated wall thickness which is tolerable. The inspection results have confirmed the unit to be fit for commercial operation.