Basic Features

The distribution of the reactor core and associated control and safety systems is follows these design criteria: 

• Upwards cooling flow. 
• Free access of reactor personnel to the top of pool with the reactor operating at full power.
• Easy access to the reactor core from the top of pool. 
• Control and safety rods drives are located below the reactor tank. 
• The reactor shut down system consists of two different and independent systems: the reactor control and safety plates and a gadolinium injection system. 
• Cooling of the core during shutdown is by natural circulation of the pool water through the core. 
• Water injection system to protect against LOCA consequences.

Key Project Data

The contract for the construction of the reactor was signed in september, 1992, and work began in March, 1993. During 1993, the basic design of the plant systems, and on advancing in the structural design and calculus of the civil works and reactor pool tank in order to allow construction works to proceed. Overall progress during that year reached 7%.

The detail engineering of the plant systems began in 1994. At the site, ground-movement operations were initiated early that year, followed by the beginning of civil construction works in June. By February, manufacture of the reactor and auxiliary pools began in an Egyptian workshop. Overall progress by the end of the year reached 27%.

Work continued at a good pace during 1995 on the civil works, the building being specially prepared to allow the late entry of the reactor and auxiliary pools.

Prototypes were assembled at INVAP laboratories to test safety systems and parts of the instrumentation and control complex. In December, the reactor pool was placed in its final position. Overall progress by the end of the year reached 51%.

In 1996, the reactor block and surrounding structures were built. Operations started on several simultaneous mounting fronts, namely: piping, electric power system cabling, instrumentation & control system cabling, and ventilation ducts. System integration tests and an overall pre-delivery verification were carried out at INVAP laboratories on the reactor operation console, reactor protection system and supervision and control systems. Overall progress by the end of the year reached 80%.
The reactor and auxiliary pool inner structures were assembled between March and July 1997. Operations began by April on the assembly of the control room and I&C electronic systems. Final tests for releasing the assembly and erection of the plant systems were carried out in August.
Formal commissioning began in September 1997.

At a first stage, tests were carried out without loading nuclear fuel. Integration tests were run to check the operation of the plant systems and I&C complex.

Fuel was loaded in the core on November 24th, and first criticality was reached on November 27th. Core neutron parameters were measured (reactivity, power distribution) at the end of the year.

The power operation stage was initiated in February 1998, and the reactor's rated power (22 MW) was reached on March 11th.

A preliminary acceptance certificate was obtained for the plant on March 18th 1998.