On October 16, the first commercial land-based modular small reactor in the world — the "Linglong One" demonstration project of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in Changjiang, Hainan — successfully completed the cold state functional test of the primary loop. This successful cold state functional test highlights China's comprehensive strength in the design of new nuclear energy systems, high-end equipment manufacturing, and complex engineering coordination. It is of great significance for consolidating China's leading advantage in the international competition of small reactors and forming an advanced brand of modular small reactors in China, laying a solid foundation for subsequent hot tests, reactor fuel loading, and commercial operation of the project.
The cold state functional test is a major comprehensive debugging test for a nuclear power plant, mainly aimed at verifying the performance of the primary loop system and its auxiliary pipelines under high pressure, and conducting relevant tests on the main system and auxiliary systems at various pressure levels, which is the first comprehensive "health check" of the entire reactor's performance. The successful completion of the cold state functional test of the "Linglong One" small reactor demonstration project means that the pressure boundary of the primary loop of the unit is complete and well-sealed, verifying the installation quality of the related equipment pipelines and ensuring safe and stable operation in the future.
"Linglong One" is the world's first land-based commercial modular small reactor to pass the safety review of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It represents a significant breakthrough in China's independent innovation in nuclear power. According to the information, "Linglong One" started construction in Hainan Nuclear Power on July 13, 2021. After its completion and operation, it is expected to generate an annual electricity output of 1 billion kilowatt-hours, meeting the electricity demand of about 526,000 households in Hainan. It can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 8.8 million tons per year, equivalent to planting 7.5 million trees annually. Not only will it provide stable and reliable clean energy to help achieve the national "double carbon" goals and the construction of Hainan's "Clean Energy Island," but it will also promote the development of global nuclear energy through the demonstration effect of advanced reactor technology.
To ensure the smooth progress of the cold test node, the construction team of the small reactor demonstration project at Hainan Nuclear Power, under the premise of ensuring absolute control over safety and quality, integrated resources across the entire chain of design, procurement, construction, and commissioning. With commissioning as the leader, construction and installation as the main force, and design and procurement as the two wings, all units closely cooperated, focused on key issues, and tackled the urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy tasks of the cold test, ensuring that all cold test work was steadily implemented.
(Source: People's Daily Client)
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