China has become one of the few countries in the world to master the fourth generation nuclear energy technology. Gas cooling | High temperature | China
CCTV News: The Shandong Rongcheng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant is the first high-temperature gas cooled reactor demonstration power plant in China with completely independent intellectual property rights. It also marks China as one of the few countries in the world to master the fourth generation nuclear energy technology. What is a high-temperature gas cooled reactor? What innovations are there? Let's learn together.
When the reporter arrived at the Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant, the staff were conducting the latest test verification. At the end of last year, for the first time, dual reactor initial full power operation was achieved here. Staff told reporters that compared to other reactors, high-temperature gas cooled reactors generate less waste heat and can take away the heat from the core solely through natural heat dissipation. Their fuel composition is also very unique, able to withstand a melting point high temperature of about 1600 ℃, making them safer.
Guo Shiwei, Acting Deputy Director of the Operations Department of Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.: This ball is the fuel element of our high-temperature gas cooled reactor. The high-temperature gas cooled reactor is known as the fourth generation nuclear power technology, and some foreign magazines call it a reactor that will never melt. This ball is one of the key technologies. There are over 10000 fuel cores with a diameter of about one millimeter inside this ball. We have also wrapped four layers of hard, structurally stable, and high-temperature resistant ceramic coatings outside the fuel core. Through these ceramic coatings, all radioactive substances produced by nuclear reactions are wrapped inside. Due to its high temperature resistance, our safety can generally be guaranteed.
Guo Shiwei, Acting Deputy Director of the Operations Department of Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.: The fourth generation nuclear power technology was proposed in the 1990s. Compared to mainstream nuclear power plants, it has set higher standards in terms of nuclear safety, nuclear radiation safety, economy, and the amount of radioactive waste generated, as well as nuclear diffusion control capabilities.
Nuclear power operates stably and reliably, with almost no carbon emissions generated during the production process. Technically, it can be used as a base load power source to replace fossil fuels on a large scale. The person in charge told the reporter that the project underwent a detailed evaluation and analysis from the beginning of design and construction to ensure that it had no impact on the surrounding environment.
Guo Shiwei, Acting Deputy Director of the Operations Department of Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.: During the operation of the nuclear power plant, we monitor and track all emissions and impacts on the environment in real time. The country also has corresponding environmental and radiation safety departments stationed at the power plant to supervise us.
It is understood that the preliminary work for the planned construction of four million kilowatt pressurized water reactor units for the expansion project of Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Station is underway. After the project is fully put into operation, the annual power generation will reach 39 billion kilowatt hours, and the annual carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 30 million tons.
