The pouring of concrete has been completed for the foundation slab of the conventional island for the ACP100 multi-purpose small modular reactor (SMR) demonstration project at the Changjiang nuclear power plant on China’s island province of Hainan.
The final concrete for the foundation slab was poured at 2.00am on 3 May, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. The construction period for the slab was 169 days and it was completed ten days ahead of schedule.
CNNC noted the foundation slab – measuring 60 metres in length and 53 metres in width and containing some 1300 tonnes of steel reinforcement – was built in nine sections. The thickness of the foundation of the steam turbine base is 2.5 metres, with the thickness of the other sections varying between 1 metre and 4 metres.
Construction of the multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) – also referred to as the Linglong One – officially started on 13 July 2021 following final approval for its construction being given by China’s National Development and Reform Commission the previous month.
Once completed, the Changjiang ACP100 reactor will be capable of producing 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of 526,000 households. The reactor is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.
CNNC announced in July 2019 the launch of a project to construct an ACP100 reactor at Changjiang. The site is already home to two operating CNP600 PWRs, while the construction of the two Hualong One units began in March and December last year. Both those units are due to enter commercial operation by the end of 2026.
Under development since 2010, the ACP100 integrated PWR’s preliminary design was completed in 2014. The major components of its primary coolant circuit are installed within the reactor pressure vessel. In 2016, the design became the first SMR to pass a safety review by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Source: World Nuclear News
