History, features of the Tianwan NPP

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The problem of energy consumption in the modern world is very acute. The non-renewability of resources that are traditionally used to provide the population with electricity makes the governments of many countries think about alternative energy sources. However, the insufficient level of technology development, different climatic and geographical conditions make it possible to use the energy of sunlight, water and wind in far from all regions. That is why, even after several serious accidents and increased public distrust in the “peaceful atom”, nuclear energy still remains one of the most promising areas of development.

Nuclear power industry of the People's Republic of China

China's nuclear power industry in a peaceful environment is currently represented by thirty-six reactors located at fourteen nuclear power plants. Thirty-one more power units are planned to be built, twelve of them are already under project implementation.

Most nuclear power plants (including the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, which is one of the most reliable and safe) are located oncoast. This localization allows the use of sea water for direct cooling. All suitable sites near seawater sources have already been planned for further construction of new power units.

In general, the active development of China's nuclear energy is aimed at improving the environmental situation in the state. The booming economy was previously supported by coal-fired power plants, which emit much more harmful substances into the atmosphere than a normally functioning nuclear power plant. As a result, the air in cities is polluted, and in general the situation in terms of ecology leaves much to be desired.

Cooperation between China and the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear energy

Most of the reactors on the territory of the People's Republic of China are not being built without the participation of the Russian Federation. The construction of the Tianwan NPP was no exception (by the way, the power plant is the largest object of Russian-Chinese cooperation). Assistance is provided at the stages of drawing up projects for energy facilities, the actual construction of power units, the supply of building materials and equipment, the provision of construction personnel and the training of Chinese workers. Rosatom's portfolio of orders is filled with projects from Chinese partners, China, in turn, is also strengthening its presence in the Russian market: Eastern partners are shareholders of Yamal LNG and Sibur.

Location of nuclear power plant

Tianwan NPP (China) is located near the city of the same name on the coastYellow Sea. Locals refer to the locality, located thirty kilometers from the city of Lianyungang, as a small fishing village, but in fact, the population of the urban district is a little less than five million people. At the same time, the Lianyungang area is only seven and a half square kilometers.

The photo above shows the location of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant on a map of China.

Chronology of the project implementation

The construction of a nuclear power plant near the "fishing village" of Lianyungang began (if we talk about the beginning of cooperation) back in 1992. Then between the engineering company Atomstroyexport, which is a contractor, the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation signed a cooperation agreement. The agreement provided for the development of the Tianwan NPP project, the supply of the necessary equipment and materials, installation work, the commissioning of the nuclear power plant and the training of personnel subsequently employed at the power facility.

In fact, the launch of the first power unit of the Tianwan power plant took place in 2005. A year later, a new facility, the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, was included in the National Electric Grid of China. The history of the project had just begun. The first two units of the nuclear power plant were commissioned in 2007. The object was under warranty for the next two years.

In 2010, the Chinese Energy Corporation entered into another agreement withRussian Atomstroyexport. This time the contract stipulated the conditions for the construction of the third and fourth power units. The development of projects was completed in 2012 for the third and in 2013 for the fourth power units, it was marked by the solemn beginning of the foundation concreting. It is expected that the third and fourth power units of the Tianwan NPP will be commissioned in 2018.

Organizations involved in the construction of the power plant

The construction of the nuclear power plant was carried out not only by the engineering company Atomstroyexport. The following companies and organizations took part in the implementation of the project of power units of the first stage at the Tianwan NPP:

• scientific guidance was provided by the Kurchatov Institute;
• the reactor plant was developed at the Gidropress experimental design bureau;
• commissioning of the NPP was controlled by the general contractor - Atomtechenergo;
• St. Petersburg Atomenergoproekt acted as the general designer;
• the main equipment was manufactured at Izhora Plants;
• steam generators were supplied by the ZiO-Podolsk machine-building plant;
• automated control system of a nuclear power plant was purchased from the German concern Siemens.

In total, about 150 companies and organizations are involved in the development and implementation of the project, in addition, a number of equipment were manufactured by Chinese enterprises.

Commissioning of the nuclear power plant

Successful implementation of the project andThe timely commissioning of the first-order power units became a milestone event both for the Chinese nuclear power industry and for Russian contractors and developers. The protocol for the preliminary delivery of work was signed by the head of Atomstroyexport on the Russian side and the director of JNPC (Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation) on the Chinese side. The status of the operating Tianwan NPP (see photo below) was received on August 16, 2007.

Important feature

During the construction of the nuclear power plant, the most modern solutions at that time were used. An important issue for organizations and companies involved in the development of the project was to ensure the reliability of the Tianwan NPP. Today, the power facility is one of the safest nuclear power plants in the world.

This result was achieved thanks to a unique solution, which is an important feature of the nuclear power plant project. The fact is that several so-called traps were laid during the construction of the station. Cone-shaped compartments are designed to contain the core. Thus, in case of a possible accident, the melted structural elements of the structure will fill the traps, which will prevent the destruction of the building as a whole.

Further plans for cooperation between China and the Russian Federation

Successful completion of the project guaranteed continued international cooperation for Russian contractors. Both parties were satisfied with the commissioning of the joint facility in 2007. Newan agreement providing for the terms of project development, construction and commissioning of power units of the second order (second and third) was signed almost immediately after the warranty period for servicing the Tianwan NPP.

Planned joint construction of the remaining power units of a nuclear power plant in China. In total, it is planned to put into operation eight power units of the Tianwan NPP, but the timing of the project is still unknown. The talks also discussed possible cooperation in the construction of another power plant. The new facility is planned to be built in the city of Harbin, in northeast China.

Nuclear power plants that are being built according to a similar project

Many states are interested in designing safe nuclear power plants. At the moment, the construction of additional trap compartments is an innovative solution, but at the same time it is quite difficult to develop a project and build an energy facility.

According to the AES-2006 project (an improved AES-91, according to which the Tianwan NPP was built), which provides for high safety and reliability indicators, five nuclear power plants are currently being built. Three of them are located on the territory of the Russian Federation:

• B altic NPP in the Kaliningrad region;
• Leningrad NPP-2 in the city of Sosnovy Bor, 68 km from St. Petersburg;
• Novovoronezh NPP-2 in the Voronezh Region.

The two remaining plants are being built in Belarus (Grodno region) and India in accordance with NPP-2006 safety standards. The last nuclear power plant does not fully comply with the project.

Five more nuclear power plants are planned to be built in the near future:

• in Russia - Seversk NPP in the Tomsk region, Kursk NPP-2, Nizhny Novgorod NPP;
• abroad - nuclear power plants in Turkey and Bangladesh.

Nuclear power plants of a new generation will minimize the consequences of possible accidents. It is especially pleasing that the Russian Federation was involved in the development and implementation of the project of the safest nuclear power plant in the world.