Dismantling of Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant

28.11.2023


Source: Energie & Management Powernews

The dismantling of the Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant in Bavaria is progressing well. The dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel is now beginning.

The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant (KKG) near Schweinfurt was taken off the grid in 2015 as part of the nuclear phase-out and has been dismantled for five years.

In the first third of the dismantling process, the energy company Preussen Elektra announced that the residual material treatment center has been set up and fuel-free operation has been achieved. Plant manager Bernd Kaiser explained: "We are still well on schedule. The processes are now well established and this has enabled us to increase our dismantling performance year on year." According to Preussen Elektra, around 13,200 components out of a total of 20,500 have been decommissioned and 4,400 out of a total of 27,000 tons dismantled since work began in 2018.

With the so-called water-free status, which was achieved in August, the prerequisite for the next major project has been met: the dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel. This also includes uncovering, cutting free and packing the reactor pressure vessel. Dismantling manager Stefan Krieger: "We have already exposed the vessel, which means removing the surrounding sealing and insulation, among other things. We are currently in the final stages of cutting the vessel free and thus completely detaching it from the building structures." For the actual dismantling, the pressure vessel has to be lifted out of its installation position. A special strand jack lifting system was set up for this purpose.

Another dismantling highlight is likely to be the demolition of the two cooling towers planned for next year. This is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024. The internals in the cooling towers were already removed and disposed of in the spring of this year. Preussen Elektra intends to use the demolition material to fill one of the two cooling tower basins. This will create another area on the power plant site for storing containers and other materials.

The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant was in operation from 1982 to 2015. The pressurized water reactor had a gross electrical output of 1,345 MW. The plant lost its authorization to operate as part of the 13th amendment to the Atomic Energy Act and was finally shut down on 27 June 2015. With the granting of the decommissioning and dismantling permit, the dismantling of the plant began in April 2018. Around 175 Preussen-Elektra employees currently work at the site.

Author: Günter Drewnitzky