All three steam generators for unit 2 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province have been installed over a five-day period, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. The hoisting of the second steam generator took just 2 hours and 54 minutes, "setting a new record in the history of nuclear power".

One of the three steam generators is hoisted into the reactor building of Zhangzhou 2 (Image: CNNC)

Two Chinese-designed Hualong One reactors are currently being built at the Zhangzhou site. They feature ZH-65 steam generators, the first domestic third-generation nuclear power steam generator with completely independent intellectual property rights.

All three steam generators for unit 2 were hoisted into place between 29 July and 2 August.

CNNC noted that the steam generators for both Zhangzhou units 1 and 2 have been moved into the internal structure of the nuclear island by adopting the "main equipment first-introduction method". In this method a large crawler crane is used to lower the main equipment into the reactor building before the containment dome has installed, rather than the traditional way of completing civil construction prior to installing the major components.

"Compared with the conventional method, the time spent waiting for the availability of the polar crane on the critical path of the main circuit is saved, so that the installation work of the main circuit can be started in advance, which can greatly reduce the construction period of the nuclear power project," CNNC said.

The company said the installation of the steam generators at Zhangzhou 2 has "laid a solid foundation for the lifting of the reactor pressure vessel and the hoisting of the inner dome".

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued construction licences for Zhangzhou units 1 and 2 on 9 October 2019 to CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, the owner of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project which was created by CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%) in 2011. The licences are valid for 10 years. Construction of unit 1 began one week after the issuance of the construction licence, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. The units are scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News