Four steam generators and the reactor vessel for unit 3 at the Xudapu nuclear power plant have a combined weight of 1700 tonnes and are being transported from Russia to China by road, barge and then sea from St Petersburg.
The production of the equipment was carried out by AEM-Technologies, part of Rosatom-Atomenergomash. Xudapu units 3 and 4, in Liaoning province in China, are to feature VVER-1200 reactors.
Igor Kotov, director general of JSC Atomenergomash, said: “The production of equipment for four power units in the People’s Republic of China is one of the key projects for the development of a strategic partnership in the energy sector between Russia and China … in April of this year, the first set of equipment was shipped – a reactor and four steam generators for unit No 7 of Tianwan NPP, and today we shipped a set for unit No 3 of Xudapu NPP. Shipment for the next two power units of these stations will take place in 2024.”
The steam generators are heat exchangers, about 14 metres long, with a diameter of more than 4 metres and weighing 350 tonnes. The reactor vessel has a length of about 13 metres and a diameter of 4.5 metres and weighs 320 tonnes.
In June 2018, Russia and China signed four agreements, including for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors at the new Xudapu (also known as Xudabao) site. Agreements signed in June 2019 included a general contract for the construction of Xudapu units 3 and 4, as well as a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. Rosatom is designing the nuclear island and will supply key equipment, as well as providing field supervision, installation supervision, and commissioning services for the supplied equipment. Turbine generators and balance of plant will be supplied by China.
Construction of Xudapu unit 3 began in July 2021, with that of unit 4 starting in May 2022. The 2019 agreements also included the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan plant, in Jiangsu province. They are scheduled to be commissioned in 2026-2027.
Source: World Nuclear News
