Second RPV lifted and installed at Hinkley Point C (VIDEO)

Click the image for a video. Sarens’ Big Carl lifts the 500 tonne vessel from Mammoet SPMT prior to its placement on the red elevated skid tracks (centre) to get it inside the reactor building. Photo: EDF

See a video of the lifting operation.

Super heavy lift ring crane Big Carl lifted the second nuclear reactor pressure vessel for the first part of its installation at Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station construction project in the south west of the UK.

It was the first part of the job to install the RPV and was followed by a Mammoet skidding operation to get it inside the building. Work on the lifting and installation started on Thursday 28 May and was completed by teatime Friday.

The Sarens SGC-250 lifting the 500 tonne reactor pressure vessel for Unit 2. Photo: EDF

The 5,000 tonne Sarens SGC-250 crane lifted the 13 metre long steel cylinder from Mammoet self propelled modular transporter, placing it in position on an elevated Mammoet skid track outside the building.

From there the 500 tonne load, manufactured by Framatome in France, was skidded inside. The building’s polar crane was then used to stand the RPV up before lowering it onto its support ring in a space with just 40 mm clearance each side.

Having learnt from the first installation, of reactor one, Unit 2 was a quicker and cheaper process occupying less space. First time around a large overhead gantry type lifting system was temporarily installed for the job.

Learning from experience

Mammoet skid track for installation of RPV for Unit 2 at HPC. Photo: EDF

Overall, construction of Unit 2 is progressing up to 30 per cent more quickly than Unit 1, such is the benefit of experience. It has more steelwork and equipment installed and the outer containment layer is already in place.

Commenting on the operation Simon Parsons, Hinkley Point C delivery director, said, “This marks a tremendous achievement by the entire team and one that has taken months of planning and close co-ordination between the 10 main contractors involved. We’ve also seen strong innovation to achieve not just a ‘cut and paste’ from the first reactor’s installation, but using our experience to save time, money and disruption to the site.

“Importantly, we are also applying those lessons to put Unit 2 well ahead of the first unit’s position at the equivalent stage, with more materials in place and more work achieved.”

See a video of the lifting operation.

The RPV suspended vertically from the polar crane inside Unit 2. Photo: EDF