Nuclear News Weekly Roundup – 01/22 - 01/26

A New Domestic First! Construction Begins for CNNC’s Indigenously Developed NPP “Central Nervous System” Simulator

The nuclear safety grade digital control system used by nuclear reactors is akin to the “central nervous system” of a nuclear power plant. The Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC), a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Company (CNNC),  recently developed China’s first indigenous military/civil nuclear reactor DCS platform simulator, which has now successfully begun construction following approval from the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA). This is yet another achievement for CNNC, which was realized through persistent innovation and a strategy centered around joint military/civil development. This signifies that China’s civil nuclear reactor safety grade DCS has made a transitional leap from the design stage to the production stage.

First HPR1000's Conventional Island TG Stator Lowered into Position

At 2:58pm on January 19th, the CI’s heaviest component, the turbine generator stator, was successfully lowered into position at the Fuqing Unit 5 HPR1000 demonstration plant, setting the foundation for the subsequent turbine generator installation. Lifted by a 466.5-ton single-hook crane, the stators for Fuqing Unit 5’s TGs weigh in at 455 tons, making it the heaviest component at the site.

The World’s First HPR1000 RPV Now in Place!

At 5:07pm on January 28th, the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for Fuqing Unit 5 was successfully hoisted into place. After the positioning of the RPV, other components may be installed, like the RPV nozzle insulation, paving the way for welding of the primary piping.

The RPV is the core element of the nuclear reactor, serving an important safety shielding purpose. The RPV allows the nuclear reactor to sustain chain reaction under a controllable loading of heat and pressure. Compared with its Gen II counterparts, the HPR1000 RPV is more advanced in terms of design, material production, welding, and final machining, not to mention its heightened manufacturing standards.

The RPV was developed and designed by Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC), with China First Heavy Industries (CFHI) tasked with the manufacture.

The installation work was streamed live by CCTV (China Central Television).