CHINA EXPORTS NUKE TECH INSTEAD OF COAL

Hot functional tests completed at Karachi 3

11 November 2021

Hot functional testing of Karachi 3 in Pakistan was completed ahead of schedule on 4 November, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced today. This means the second overseas Hualong One unit has entered the "fuel loading stage", the company said.

The Karachi site (Image: CNNC)

Hot functional tests simulate the temperatures and pressures that the reactor systems will be subjected to during normal operation and are carried out before loading nuclear fuel. They involve increasing the temperature of the reactor coolant system and carrying out comprehensive tests to ensure that coolant circuits and safety systems are operating as they should. China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation - CNNC's general contractor for Karachi 2 and 3 - previously announced that the tests at Karachi 3 began on 13 September.

Like Karachi 2, which entered commercial operation in May, Karachi 3 is a 1100 MW Hualong One unit supplied by CNNC. The two units are the first exports of the Hualong One, which is also promoted on the international market as HPR1000. The first example of the Hualong One - Fuqing 5 in China's Fujian province - was commissioned at the beginning of this year. Eight nuclear power units using Hualong One technology are under construction or in operation at home and abroad, CNNC said.

The construction of the Karachi units has boosted the development of Pakistan's economy by providing over 10,000 direct jobs for Pakistan citizens, and a further 40,000 indirect jobs through the value chain, it added.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

Fuel loading under way at Fuqing 6

08 November 2021

The process of loading the 177 fuel assemblies into the core of unit 6 at the Fuqing nuclear power plant began on 6 November, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. The unit - the second of two demonstration Hualong One reactors at the site in China's Fujian province - is scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year.

Fuel loading operations at Fuqing 6 (Image: CNNC)

"The first fuel loading has officially started, marking the unit has entered the nuclear commissioning stage of the main system, and has taken an important step towards completion and commissioning," CNNC said today.

China's State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in April 2015. The pouring of first concrete for Fuqing 5 began in May 2015, marking the official start of construction of the unit. Construction of unit 6 began in December the same year. Unit 5 was connected to the grid on 27 November last year, having achieved first criticality on 21 October, and entered commercial operation on 30 January this year.

Construction of two demonstration Hualong One (HPR1000) units is also under way at China General Nuclear's Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Autonomous Region. Those units are expected to start up in 2022. CNNC has also started construction of two Hualong One units at the Zhangzhou plant in Fujian province, plus the first of two units at Taipingling in Guangdong.

Two HPR1000 units are under construction at Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant. Construction began on Karachi unit 2 in 2015 and unit 3 in 2016; the units are planned to enter commercial operation in this year and next, respectively. Karachi 2 was connected to the grid in March after the completion of commissioning tests.

"At present, two Hualong One units have been put into commercial operation, and a total of eight nuclear power units using China National Nuclear Corporation's Hualong One technology are under construction and operation at home and abroad," CNNC said.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News