AREVA to supply filtered containment venting systems for Cernavoda plant in Romania

AREVA was awarded a contract by the Canadian group SNC-Lavalin Nuclear to provide filtered containment venting systems (FCVS) for Units 1 and 2 at CNE Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

The contract is part of a global cooperation agreement between AREVA and SNC-Lavalin for CANDU-specific reactor designs. The project is planned for completion over the next 27 months.

The FCVS technology is part of a global Safety Alliance framework through which AREVA provides a range of safety analysis, upgrades and enhancements to help utilities meet post-Fukushima Safety requirements.

“This agreement is a great example of our industry’s commitment to nuclear safety across the globe,” said Claude Jaouen, Senior Executive Vice President of Reactors & Services Business Group. “The filtered containment venting system responds to issues raised as a result of Fukushima and is just one way AREVA is working to meet and exceed our customers’ safety needs”.

Filtered Containment venting systems prevent the build up of excessive containment pressure and contribute to safe operations. It is designed for use in the event of a severe accident leading to the reactor core meltdown and the partial or total incapacitation of safety systems. In such an event, the FCVS operates to achieve a controlled reduction of the containment pressure thanks to the filtered venting that ensures the retention and recirculation of airborne activity within containment.

Installed in more than 50 nuclear power plants worldwide, AREVA’s filtered containment venting solution can be used in all types of reactors: Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) including Russian type (VVER), Boiling Water Reactors (BWR), and CANDU plants and its compact and modular design enables a convenient retrofit into existing plant.