21 Nov (NucNet): China’s Fuqing-1 nuclear unit in Fujian province entered commercial operation after the thermal performance test was completed, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Nuclear Industry Construction Company (CNI) have said.
According to CNI, the domestic Generation II+ CPR-1000 pressurised water reactor unit entered commercial operation after 100 hours of operating at full power on 19 November.
According to CNNC, the thermal performance test was completed on 18 November. The test ensures that the operation of the turbo-generator meets all design specifications. The test involves 21 systems and 104 measuring points.
CNNC said the results of the test showed “better than design values” and “better efficiency” of the thermal output of the unit.
After preliminary calculations, the unit’s gross electrical output was rated at 1,102 megawatts (MW), which is 13 MW higher than the design value, CNNC said.
Fuqing-1 started the last test run, which includes operating at full power for 168 hours, on 14 November 2014. The unit achieved first criticality on 24 July and was connected to the grid on 21 August.
The 1,000-MW unit has been undergoing testing for eight months and its systems meet all requirements, CNNC said.
The Fuqing nuclear power station has another three CPR-1000 units under construction, which are expected to become operational in August 2015, February 2016 and March 2017.
Fuqing-1 becomes China’s 23rd nuclear power unit in commercial operation. There are another 26 units under construction.
