China Nationwide Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) introduced on Dec. 6 that China’s independently developed high-temperature gas-cooled modular pebble mattress (HTR-PM) reactor demonstrator had commenced business operation.
The HTR-PM venture was constructed at a web site in Rongcheng, Shandong Province (Determine 1), roughly halfway between Beijing and Shanghai in jap China. Touted as “the world’s first commercially operational modular nuclear energy plant with fourth-generation nuclear expertise,” the achievement marks an essential milestone, transitioning the expertise from experiments to the business market.
Development of the pioneering venture started in December 2012, led by China Huaneng (which holds a 47.5% stake within the demonstration), together with CNNC subsidiary China Nuclear Engineering Corp. (CNEC, 32.5%), and Tsinghua College’s Institute of Nuclear and New Vitality Know-how (INET, 20%). Chinergy, a three way partnership between Tsinghua and CNEC, served because the engineering, procurement, and development contractor for the nuclear island.
The HTR-PM options two small reactors, every with a capability of 250 MWth. The reactors use helium because the coolant and graphite because the moderator. Every reactor is loaded (Determine 2) with greater than 400,000 spherical gasoline components, or pebbles, every 60 millimeters in diameter, which is roughly the scale of a tennis ball. Every pebble incorporates about seven grams of uranium gasoline enriched to eight.5%.
Warmth from the reactor produces steam in a steam generator. Tsinghua has reported helium temperatures on the reactor core inlet run about 250C, whereas outlet temperatures attain about 750C. Steam at 13.25 Megapascal (MPa) and 567C is produced on the steam generator outlet. The steam is used to drive a single steam turbine related to a 210-MWe generator.
The demonstration venture was first related to the grid on Dec. 20, 2021. Vital testing has been performed since that point to validate operation and display acceptability. CNNC mentioned the HTR-PM design has broad functions in varied fields together with energy era and mixed warmth and energy. It famous benefits embody excessive security, energy era effectivity, and environmental adaptability.
Tsinghua has mentioned greater than 30 years of steady analysis, performed by lots of of Tsinghua scientists, has gone into the venture. Builders stepped from the essential analysis of key applied sciences, to a 10-MW experimental reactor (HTR-10) constructed at an INET web site, and at last to the demonstration venture that’s now in business operation at Shidaowan. Notably, Tsinghua mentioned 93.4% of the tools used within the remaining HTR-PM venture was manufactured domestically.
Linglong One SMR Milestone
In the meantime, China is also main the nuclear trade ahead with development of the world’s first multipurpose small modular reactor (SMR) demonstration venture, often known as Linglong One. The unit is sited in southern China on the island of Hainan. In November, CNNC introduced the highest head of the metal containment vessel for the unit was hoisted into place, signaling graduation of the height section of inside set up.
The Linglong One venture started development on the Changjiang Nuclear Energy Plant on July 13, 2021. Linglong One, also called the ACP100 design, is a multipurpose pressurized water reactor design developed by CNNC following greater than 10 years of unbiased analysis and improvement. CNNC has known as it “one other important achievement of unbiased innovation after Hualong One, CNNC’s third-generation nuclear energy expertise.”
In 2016, the Linglong One design turned the primary SMR to move a security assessment by the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company. Every Linglong One unit has a producing capability of 125 MW. The demonstration venture is wholly owned by CNNC’s China Nationwide Nuclear Energy.
CNNC has mentioned the design and development of Linglong One are revolutionary and groundbreaking. Modular development is its most distinguished function. On Aug. 10 this yr, the core module of the Linglong One reactor was lifted and positioned within the nuclear island (Determine 3). The stress vessel, evaporator, and different key tools have been put in in a single step. By means of standardized design, single module manufacturing, and mass manufacturing, the development interval is shortened and prices lowered, whereas bettering security, the corporate mentioned. The small measurement and simplified system make the SMR handy for transportation and operation.
Along with producing electrical energy, CNNC mentioned the Linglong One may also be used for seawater desalination, and heating or cooling, amongst different helpful functions. The corporate envisions it serving as self-contained power sources for parks, islands, mining areas, and high-energy-consuming enterprises.
—Aaron Larson is POWER’s government editor (@POWERmagazine). POWER Senior Affiliate Editor Sonal Patel contributed to this text.
