The China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) under the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has successfully completed the principle verification test of the integral residual heat removal system for the integrated closed-cycle fast reactor nuclear energy system. The results have been reviewed and approved by experts from Tsinghua University and other leading institutions. This is China's first verified test of the new passive residual heat removal technology for fast reactors, representing a significant breakthrough in advancing key technologies and providing strong support for the design and development of integral fast reactors.

Removing residual heat from the reactor core passively through natural circulation of the coolant is a key feature of the inherent safety of fast reactors. Yet, how to effectively realize and verify natural circulation in fast reactors remains a major focus and challenge worldwide. CIAE introduced a new passive residual heat removal technology that can reliably and efficiently dissipate core heat without relying on any active equipment.

To support reactor design, enhance technological maturity, and ensure safety, the CIAE team made innovative breakthroughs in experimental simulation of fast reactor natural circulation and the new passive residual heat removal system. They successfully developed a fully visualized integrated simulation test facility for integral fast reactors and carried out principle verification.

As the first comprehensive transient test facility for the integral fast reactor, it can simulate multiple key physical processes from normal operation to passive heat removal after shutdown. It provides a vital platform for revealing the working principles of the new passive residual heat removal system for integral fast reactors and is expected to play an important role in the design and development of other fast reactors.