1,000-MW unit now enters commissioning stage
Cold functional testing has been completed at Unit 6 of the Tianwan nuclear power station in Jiangsu province, eastern China, marking the transfer of the 1,000-MW pressurised water reactor unit from the equipment installation stage to the commissioning stage, China National Nuclear Corporation said.
Cold functional tests are carried out to confirm whether safety systems are properly installed and ready to operate in a cold conditions. They are the first comprehensives tests to check the performance of the entire reactor.
The main purpose of the tests is to verify the leak-tightness of the primary circuit and components such as pressure vessels, pipelines and valves of both the nuclear and conventional islands, and to clean the main circulation pipes.
Cold functional tests are carried out to confirm whether safety systems are properly installed and ready to operate in a cold conditions. They are the first comprehensives tests to check the performance of the entire reactor.
The main purpose of the tests is to verify the leak-tightness of the primary circuit and components such as pressure vessels, pipelines and valves of both the nuclear and conventional islands, and to clean the main circulation pipes.
Tianwan-6 is a domestically developed CNP1000 design. It is seen as a Generation II+ design and a precursor to Generation III designs.
Another unit of the same design, Tianwan-5, began commercial operation in September.
CNNC said Tianwan-6 is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2021, making it China’s 50th Commercial nuclear reactor. There are 11 units under construction in China.
There are also four Russia-procured VVER-1000 nuclear units in commercial operation at Tianwan.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, China’s fleet of reactors produced 4.9% of the country’s electricity in 2019.
