Objectives

To achieve improvement in safety and reliability of Balakovo NPP, it was considered necessary to replace the accumulator cells of all the Units. New batteries were supplied for the Units 1 and 2 in the frame of Tacis 93-94. For Unit 3 the replacement of the batteries was performed with funds from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, meanwhile the replacement of the batteries in the Unit 4 was done in the frame of the project R1.02/95C.

Scope of the project

The scope of supply, as indicated in the Technical Specification of the original tender, was to provide new batteries for the Unit 3 of Balakovo NPP. In September 1999 the beneficiary justified and proposed to the European Commission the replacement of the batteries of the Unit 4 instead of the Unit 3. The number of cells requested for the new batteries was 430.

Implementation of the project

This service contract was given to VHB Germany, and the price of the battery cells and spare parts was of 251.000 Euros. The following activities were carried out:

• Complete design of the new batteries
• Confirmation of the design by calculations
• Supply of the accumulator cells, with drawings and documentation
• Developing installation instructions
• Providing operating and maintenance instructions
• Installation supervision
• Testing on site
• Acceptance measurements
• Final inspections

Installation/commissioning of the new batteries at Unit 4 of Balakovo NPP was performed in April/May 2000. Final acceptance by the beneficiary of this service took place in August 2001.