Hot functional testing has begun of the reactor systems at Unit 6 of the Tianwan nuclear power station in Jiangsu province, eastern China, according to a statement by developer China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNECC).
Hot testing takes place over a number of weeks and consists of about 200 tests performed on major systems to check their performance under normal operational conditions, without any nuclear fuel assemblies in the reactor.
Tianwan-6 is a domestically developed CNP1000 design. It is seen as a Generation II+ design and a precursor to Generation III designs.
Hot testing takes place over a number of weeks and consists of about 200 tests performed on major systems to check their performance under normal operational conditions, without any nuclear fuel assemblies in the reactor.
Tianwan-6 is a domestically developed CNP1000 design. It is seen as a Generation II+ design and a precursor to Generation III designs.
Cold functional tests, which confirm whether reactor systems are properly installed and ready to operate in cold conditions were completed in October 2020.
According to earlier reports, Tianwan-6 is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2021.
Tianwan-5, another unit of the same design, began commercial operation on 8 September 2020.
There are also four Russia-procured VVER-1000 nuclear units in commercial operation at Tianwan.
Data by the International Atomic Energy Agency shows China’s fleet of 49 commercial power reactors produced 4.9% of the country’s electricity in 2019.
