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August, 1998 COMING to the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes, there cannot be a better example than the Civaux Power plant in Vienne, France, consisting of two units of 1520 MW each. Almost equal to 75% of the total power generation capacity of Punjab, the power plant has been completed and commissioned just recently. An amazing feat indeed ! Many power plants, may be hydro, thermal or nuclear are dotting Indian map but no single unit is of more than 500 MW capacity. A 1500 MW unit has never been heard or thought of in India. Now the Civaux Plant of France could serve as an eyeopener with new possibilities in the offing ! Civaux nuclear power plant has quite economical features. The reactor pressure vessel of Civaux Power Plant has an external diameter of just 4.95 M with wall thickness of 230 mm only. Its weight, when empty is 462 tonnes. It is designed for a maximum thermal power of 4270 MW with gross electrical output of 1520 MW. The steam generator has a height of 21.90 M with external diameter of upper part as 4.76 M and lower part as 3.70 M. It weighs 405 tonne when empty. The turbine building is 106 M long and 60 M wide with a height of 47.70 M. The T.G. foundation consisted of 1800 cubic metres of concrete and was poured non stop over a period of 36 hours. The Turbogenerator (TG) has a weight of 3143 tonne with shaft length of 67.8 M and set speed of 1500 r.p.m. The most fascinating part is the cooling tower. I have been taking pride in constructing cooling towers of 90 metre base diameter, 120 metre height and designed to cool 30 million litres of water per hour over a range of 10°C. The cooling tower constructed for Civaux power plant has a base diameter of 155 M, a height of 178 metres and it can cool down 174 million litres of water per hour by 13.5°C. Having parameters just one and a half times, this cooling tower can cool a six-fold water discharge. What a wonderful superstructure and how economical ! A continuous surveillance of the environment in the vicinity of Civaux nuclear power plant is being ensured through regular testing of land and water ecosystems. The parameters being controlled are physical and chemical testing of water, ecological radiation control of the atmosphere, rise in temperature of water of Vienne river and the maximum noise levels. It is being ensured that the temperature rise in Vienne river is not more than 3°C with a maximum limit of 25°C so that the aquatic animals and plants are not affected. The main sources of permanent noise such as cooling towers and turbine — generator set have been so planned that the noise level at the nearest houses is 40 decibels only against the normal noise level of 50 decibels during the blowing of wind through tree branches. A full environmental radio activity programme has been chalked out to ensure radiation protection. It is believed that our body consists of five elements. In the present times, electricity can safely be added as the sixth “element” as it is not possible to live without it. Power plants like Civaux in Vienne, France, are producing 25 billion units in a year bringing peak level prosperity to that region. Let us follow suit. There cannot be a better deal for economic development and employment generation provided we maintain equal level of environmental surveillance.
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