Fire safety and nuclear safety improved once again in Olkiluoto
Fire safety has once again been raised to a notch higher level in Olkiluoto. The water lines from the Korvensuo reservoir that serves as the fresh water storage for the nuclear power plant can now be utilised more efficiently than before to provide fire water to the plant.
- We measured in the summer of 2011 the maximum water flow that can be supplied to Olkiluoto from the Korvensuo reservoir in case all power supplies are lost. In that context we also studied if water could be supplied from the Korvensuo lines to the portable fire water pumps, should it become necessary. Due to the small size of the inlet connectors, however, the pumps did not work very well, explains process engineer Mikko Tausa from TVO’s Engineering Department.
- We made the decision then to improve the possibility to supply water from the lines by acquiring larger inlet connectors and installing new valves in them.
The functional tests carried out on the portable fire water pumps in October showed that the pumps work excellently and get enough water from the new water inlet connectors on the Korvensuo lines.
According to Mr. Tausa, the level of the Korvensuo reservoir is at +6.5 metres while each inlet connector point in the three lines is at +3.5 metres.
- The inlet hoses of the portable fire water pumps are simply connected to the new inlet connectors and we are in business. The pressure is more than high enough.
Portable fire water pumps can be used to supply water from the new inlet connectors of the Korvensuo lines to e.g. the fire water network. From the fire water network, water can then be supplied for the cooling of fuel pools, for example, if the normal fuel pool cooling systems are lost.
The fire water pumps work excellently.
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