SHANGHAI, December 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The world’s first nuclear power plant project equipped with Gen IV nuclear power technology – Shidaowan High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Pebble Bed Module (HTR-PM) Demonstration Project, Shanghai Electric being one of the leading equipment suppliers. – entered commercial operation, following the successful completion of 168 hours of testing which confirmed that all systems met design functions. The milestone pushes China at the forefront of nuclear energy innovation as it continues to explore safe, reliable and sustainable energy sources to facilitate its carbon peak and neutrality goal.
Generating power through the conversion of nuclear, thermal, mechanical and electrical energy, the High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR), globally recognized as the fourth generation nuclear technology, is praised for its safety and Inherent versatility, with immense storage capacities. potential for commercial applications as an alternative energy solution to fossil fuel-based energy sources.
Initiated in 2006 and whose construction began in 2012, the Shidaowan HTR-PM demonstration project is one of 16 major national science and technology projects, tied with China lunar exploration program and the development of the BeiDou satellite navigation system.
Shanghai Electric, one of the main participants in the project, provided equipment including reactor pressure vessels, internal components of the metal core, control rod drive mechanisms, stopping systems, wind turbines, primary helium fansAnd helium compressors. The completion of the plant marks the conclusion of a ten-year effort led by China leading energy solution providers to overcome challenges with the aim of developing self-innovative solutions at the forefront of nuclear energy technology. 93.4 percent of the equipment used in the reactor is manufactured by Chinese companies.
THE reactor pressure vessels, custom-designed by Shanghai Electric for the project, feature larger sizes and more complex structures compared to their market counterparts, breaking industry records in terms of height and weight. The metal core internals manufactured for the project are the largest thin-walled metal core internals in the world, a groundbreaking achievement that fills a gap in China walk. Drawing on its 20 years of expertise, the Company has developed the world’s first high temperature, high pressure and high power electromagnetic bearing primary helium fan.
HTGR is poised to reshape the future of global nuclear power development with its exceptional safety features. It guarantees the safety of the reactor even if all cooling systems fail, preventing core meltdown and leaks of radioactive materials without any intervention. In an important step for China nuclear energy safety and nuclear technology innovation, the successful launch of the demonstration project greatly propels China ability to lead the global nuclear energy sector, paving the way for future advancements in sustainable and safe energy production.
For more information, please visit: https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.
SOURCE Shanghai Electric
