The State Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China has turned on the first global fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) nuclear power plant.
The administration states that the facility known as Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant (Shidaowan), which is equipped with the HTGR, is situated in Shandong province’s eastern region. The nuclear power facility, as previously mentioned, has commenced commercial operation after 168 hours of continuous test operation. In total, the site in Shandong can accommodate 18 modular high-temperature reactors.
The ministry’s website stated that the commissioning demonstrated that China has achieved a global level of scientific research, development, and application of fourth-generation nuclear energy technology.
Additionally, it specifies that the safety of electricity generation is the most notable benefit of the HTGR, which renders such nuclear power plants highly promising.
On December 20, 2021, at half capacity, the first Chinese block, Shidao Bay-1, which contained two HTGR reactors, was connected to the grid for the first time. According to the South China Morning Post, the unit is the only operational power plant with high-temperature reactors. Beijing Tsinghua University, CNNC, the state-owned energy behemoth China Huaneng Group, and CNNC collaborated on the design and construction of the unit.
The Shidao Bay-1 power unit consists of two HTR-PM reactors (HTGR) combined with a common turbine with a capacity of 211 MW(e). Net electrical power data provided in the PRIS database is 200 MW(e). The total thermal power of the two reactors is 500 MW(t).
Construction of the block began on December 9, 2012. The main owner of the block is China Huaneng Group. Operating organisation – Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Company, Ltd.
China can produce high-quality spherical HTGR nuclear fuel cells on an industrial scale. The fuel manufacturer is North Nuclear Fuel Element Co Ltd, which CNNC Corporation owns.
HTR-PM to HTR-PM600
During one of the seminars at the 64th session of the IAEA General Conference in 2020, which was devoted to the advancement of small modular reactor technology, Professor Li Fu of the INET Institute, which is affiliated with Tsinghua University and designed the reactor, discussed the Chinese government’s efforts to construct a high-temperature reactor HTR-PM. Including high-temperature reactors in China’s light water unit construction programme is regarded as an expansion.
They can function as electric generators, specifically substituting coal-fired stations in densely populated areas, and as providers of heated steam, which can be sought after by industry (China’s market for this is exceptionally capacious).
Incorporating high-temperature devices into hydrogen production complexes is an additional evident application.
Furthermore, Professor Li Fu highlighted the classification of high-temperature reactors as innovative technologies. He further stated that a supply chain for HTGR-type reactors was established in China.
Chinese nuclear scientists depend on HTGRs equipped with spherical fuel elements to accomplish elevated output temperatures at nuclear power facilities. Furthermore, they openly acknowledge that they capitalise on international cooperation opportunities in their endeavours.
China initiated HTGR-related R&D in the 1970s. Subsequently, the HTR-10 research reactor was designed and constructed, and the HTR-PM is now commissioned.
The objective is to achieve commercial success in China by implementing the HTR-PM600 initiative.
