Kudankulam nuclear plant: Rosatom completes supply of critical safety systems for units 3 and 4
The automated computerized equipment will monitor reactor operations and trigger automated protection systems if parameters deviate from normal limits.
What was delivered to Kudankulam
Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom has completed the delivery of all computerized engineered safety features actuation systems for units 3 and 4 of Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam nuclear power plant, marking another milestone in India's strategic expansion of clean atomic energy.
The equipment was manufactured by Rosatom Automated Control Systems, with Atomstroyexport serving as the general designer and primary equipment supplier. Around 300 individual items of equipment were manufactured and shipped to the site in southern India. The delivery comprises four distinct sets of safety control subsystems for each of the two power units, aligning with the four independent safety instrumentation channels attached to the VVER-1000 reactors.
How the safety control system works
The engineered safety features actuation system continuously monitors the reactor's operating parameters. If readings move beyond standard operational thresholds, the system automatically takes control, activating protective instrumentation and sending commands to active safety mechanisms, including boron injection pumps.
Its main purpose is to prevent beyond-design-basis accidents, shut down the reactor safely, and manage controlled cooling by steadily reducing coolant temperature and pressure to baseline levels.
To ensure reliability during an emergency, each safety train is physically separated in different rooms and connected to autonomous backup diesel generators. Building on operational experience from Kudankulam units 1 and 2, designers also incorporated non-programmable modules that process sensor data without relying on microprocessors. This design choice eliminates dependence on software applications, reducing susceptibility to common-cause software errors.
Kudankulam power generation timeline
| Facility Phase | Power Units | Reactor Model | Total Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Units 1 and 2 | VVER-1000 | 2,000 MW | Operational (2013, 2017) |
| Phase 2 | Units 3 and 4 | VVER-1000 | 2,000 MW | Under construction |
| Phase 3 | Units 5 and 6 | VVER-1000 | 2,000 MW | Planned / Under construction |
Following delivery, engineers on site will begin installation before proceeding to pre-commissioning, which involves off-line and integrated systems testing. Once fully integrated, units 3 and 4 will advance Kudankulam toward its target installed capacity of 6,000 MW, strengthening national energy security and supporting India's transition to sustainable baseload power.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment items delivered | 300 | Rosatom |
| Planned total generating capacity of Kudankulam | 6,000 MW | Rosatom |
| Reactor capacity per unit | 1,000 MW (VVER-1000) | Rosatom |
| Unit 1 commissioning year | 2013 | Rosatom |
| Unit 2 commissioning year | 2017 | Rosatom |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Rosatom | Russian state atomic energy corporation whose division manufactured and supplied the equipment. |
| Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant | The nuclear facility where units 3 and 4 are receiving the engineered safety systems. |
