Grid-connection of Unit 1 at the “national project” at the Shidao Bay site (Figure 2) in Rongcheng, Shandong Province, will be soon followed by Unit 2. When commercially operational as expected in mid-2022, the two HTR-PMs will drive a single 210-MWe steam turbine.
Construction of the pioneering project began in December 2012, led by China Huaneng (which holds a 47.5% stake in the demonstration), along with China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) subsidiary China Nuclear Engineering Corp. (CNEC, 32.5%), and Tsinghua University’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (20%). Chinergy, a joint venture between Tsinghua and CNEC, served as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the nuclear island.
Decades of Development
As Tsinghua’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology has noted, the demonstration project stems from a series of developments that marked a “qualitative leap from laboratory to engineering application.” High-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology has been explored for decades.
Decades of Development
As Tsinghua’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology has noted, the demonstration project stems from a series of developments that marked a “qualitative leap from laboratory to engineering application.” High-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology has been explored for decades.
China’s own HTGR research and development program kicked off in the mid-1970s, echoing similar government-led initiatives to develop the 200-MWth HTR-module of the Siemens/Interatom Co. in Germany, and General Atomics’ 350-MWth modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor MHTGR in the U.S.
China’s research institutions eventually accomplished the construction of the HTR-10 test reactor in the late 1990s. In February 2008, China approved the 200-MWe HTR-PM demonstration plant as part of its slate of National Major Science and Technology Projects.
China’s research institutions eventually accomplished the construction of the HTR-10 test reactor in the late 1990s. In February 2008, China approved the 200-MWe HTR-PM demonstration plant as part of its slate of National Major Science and Technology Projects.
As Tsinghua noted, the government then anticipated the technology would prove to be “a highly efficient nuclear power technology, as a supplement to pressurized water reactor [PWR] technology.” Chinese researchers also heralded the technology’s high-heat potential, as well as the opportunity to further global innovation in advanced nuclear technologies. A key focus was to improve nuclear safety inherently. READ MORE...
