The polar crane is one of the main mechanisms of the reactor compartment. It will be used at all stages of the nuclear power plant's life cycle. During the power unit operation, transportation and technological operations for the maintenance of the reactor plant will be carried out with the use of the crane.
Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Chief Executive Officer Sergei Butckikh said: «Alongside the pre-commissioning operations at Unit 1, construction, thermal and mechanical equipment installation works are being intensively carried out at other Akkuyu NPP Units. Recently, the builders have completed the concreting of the fifth tier of the inner containment. The operation took about six hours, and 240 cubic meters of self-sealing concrete were laid continuously. After the structure acquired strength, we installed the polar crane bridge metal structures. This crane is peculiar for reliability and duplication of lifting mechanisms, which is a precondition for compliance with nuclear safety standards.»
About the polar crane
The polar crane (circular overhead crane) is mounted under the dome of the reactor building's inner containment. The crane's trolley moves along the bridge, and the crane itself moves along a circular rail above the reactor shaft, which allows transportation operations to be performed anywhere in the building. The crane is used for handling large-sized equipment, reactor plant maintenance and fuel overloading. The total weight of the crane structures (bridge, main and auxiliary trolleys, mechanisms for lifting and moving loads, pivoting device, etc.) will be about 500 tons.
About Akkuyu NPP
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Türkiye. Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian design.
The capacity of each power unit will be 1200 MW. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.
