NSSC Conducts Regular Inspection, 'Shin-Kori Unit 3' Criticality Permitted

Conducting Remaining Inspections Including Power Ascension Test

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced that it has permitted the criticality of Shin-Kori Unit 3, which underwent a regular inspection starting September 11 this year, for three days.

Criticality refers to the state in a reactor where a nuclear fission chain reaction continues steadily, resulting in an equilibrium where the number of neutrons produced equals the number of neutrons lost. Upon permitting criticality, the remaining 10 inspection items, including the power ascension test (reactor characteristic test), are conducted during or after the reactor criticality process.

The NSSC confirmed through the inspection of 81 items that must be completed before criticality during this regular inspection that the reactor criticality can be safely achieved in the future.

Additionally, during this regular inspection period, a visual inspection and ultrasonic thickness measurement were performed on the containment building walls and the internal steel plates of the dome (CLP), confirming no abnormalities. It was also confirmed that nondestructive testing of the steam generator heat transfer tubes was properly conducted, and foreign material inspection and removal work were carried out, removing a total of 28 foreign objects (such as metal fragments).

Based on the results of the regular inspection so far, the NSSC has permitted the criticality of Shin-Kori Unit 3 and plans to finalize safety confirmation through subsequent inspections (10 items), including the power ascension test.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.