News Details
CURTISS-WRIGHT ANNOUNCES AP1000(R) REACTOR COOLANT PUMP (RCP) SUCCESSFULLY REACHES FULL QUALIFICATION
October 28, 2015
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW), Westinghouse Electric Company and State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) of China today announced the successful completion of final performance testing and post-test inspections of the lead AP1000® plant reactor coolant pump (RCP). Throughout the testing, the RCP performance met the design requirements which are necessary to support safe and reliable AP1000 plant operation.
The achievement will result in the shipment of the first and second Sanmen Unit 1 RCPs for arrival on site by December 31, 2015, to support key upcoming project milestones at Sanmen Unit 1, the world's first AP1000 plant. Successful test completion also will lead to fabrication and delivery of the remaining two RCPs for Sanmen Unit 1, and RCPs for the seven additional AP1000 reactors currently under construction in China and the United States, which include a second reactor at Sanmen; two at the Haiyang site in Shandong Province, China; two at Southern Nuclear's Vogtle site in Georgia; and two at the SCANA V.C. Summer site in South Carolina.
The final performance testing has verified successful RCP operation during a full range of AP1000 plant operating conditions for more than 1,600 total hours, including more than 600 start-and-stop cycles. Extensive China regulator reviews and detailed post-test inspections are now complete and confirmed that the RCP performed as designed during the final performance testing. Curtiss-Wright conducted the testing and inspection at its Electro-Mechanical Division (EMD) facility in Cheswick, Pennsylvania (USA).
"The successful completion of this extensive verification process on our first-of-a-kind RCP design represents another significant milestone achievement for Curtiss-Wright and its employees, and demonstrates our on-going commitment to the AP1000 nuclear reactor program," said David C. Adams, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "Furthermore, as a key partner to Westinghouse and SNPTC, we look forward to the successful operation of the first AP1000 plant and we remain committed to supporting China's growing nuclear power program."
"Conclusion of the reactor coolant pump testing program is a major milestone in the delivery of the world's first AP1000 plant. The rigor and discipline applied throughout the testing process demonstrate the safety and quality focus of the AP1000 project team. With the completion of this phase, we are now positioned for the next steps in providing our customers with a new generation of safe, clean, reliable energy," said Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse senior vice president, New Plants and Major Projects.
"Designing and manufacturing the technically sophisticated and demanding AP1000 reactor coolant pump has been a close, collaborative effort. After seven years of hard work among China and U.S. companies and a rigorous regulatory review and strong support of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and National Energy Administration (NEA) of China, development of the reactor coolant pump has succeeded," said Zhongtang WANG, president of State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation. "This success will further accelerate China AP1000 project construction progress as well as boost advanced passive Generation III nuclear power development in China."
ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is a global innovative company that delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants, including more than 50 percent of those in Europe. AP1000 is a trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. All rights reserved.
State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, a Group Company of State Power Investment Corporation, is one of three NPP developer & operators in China, a leading GEN III nuclear power technology developer, as well as an NPP EPC contractor and lifetime services supplier with nearly 13,000 employees.
CONTACT: Jim Ryan
(704) 869-4621
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