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CHINA LOOKS TO NUCLEAR FUTURE
Westinghouse AP100, China
Key Data
Announcement of contractDecember 2006
Construction start Expected to start in 2009
Start of operation Starting 2013Output around 1150MWe
Plant type AP1000
Location Four reactors in Sanmen and Haiyang
Estimated investment Reported to be 400m plus 15m for each reactor
Full specifications
Westinghouse is building four AP1000 nuclear plants in China, representing the countrys first construction of advanced US nuclear plants.
A framework agreement has been signed with State Nuclear Power Technology Company of China (SNPTC). Work has started on the reactors, with engineering design and long lead time procurements for major forgings already in progress. Construction proper is expected to start in 2009.
The four plants will be the first implementation of Westinghouse's new AP1000 reactor design, and will be built in pairs at Sanmen and Haiyang. The first plant is expected on line in 2013, which would make it the first ever AP1000 to generate electricity. The remaining three plants are expected in 2014 and 2015.
"The four plants will be the first implementation of Westinghouse's new AP1000 reactor design."Westinghouse has reportedly agreed to transfer the technology to China for 400m, and only 15m for each reactor. Westinghouse is now working with its Chinese customer to negotiate final contract details.
The AP1000 has also been identified as the technology of choice for 12 new projected plants in the US. The deal will generate more than 5,000 jobs in the US.
AP1000 DEVELOPED FROM AP600 POWER PLANT
The AP1000 will generate around 1150MWe, and uses a similar principle to the existing AP600 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) design. The two-loop configuration needed minimal changes to the AP600 design with, for example, the nuclear island footprint and the core diameter being unchanged.
The passive safety systems are significantly simpler than traditional PWR safety systems and do not require the large network of safety support systems needed by typical nuclear plants. That includes AC power, HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning), cooling water systems and the seismic buildings needed to house these components.
Passive systems use gravity, natural circulation and compressed gas. No pumps, fans, diesels, chillers, or other rotating machines are used in the safety sub-systems. That means 50% fewer valves, 83% less piping, 87% less control cable, 35% fewer pumps and 50% less seismic building volume than a similarly sized conventional plant. The simplified construction will also reduce operator actions. The passive design means operators would not need to take immediate action after an accident, with the reactor instead safely shutting down on its own.
All the passive systems have been designed to meet the NRC single-failure criteria and its recent criteria, including TMI (Three Mile Island) lessons-learned and unresolved/generic safety issues. Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) tools have also been used to quantify the safety of the design.
TWO STEAM GENERATORS
The AP1000 Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) plant configuration consists of two Delta−125 steam generators, each connected to the reactor pressure vessel by a single hot leg and two cold legs. Four reactor coolant pumps circulate the reactor coolant for heat removal. A pressuriser is connected to one of the hot leg pipes to maintain subcooling in the Reactor Coolant System (RCS).
AP1000 fuel design is based on the 17x17 XL design used at plants in the US and Europe. The AP1000 has a taller reactor vessel than the AP600, larger steam generators (Delta−125), a larger pressuriser and slightly taller, canned reactor coolant pumps with higher reactor coolant flows. As with AP600, studies have shown that AP1000 can operate with a full core loading of MOX fuel. The AP1000 has a modular construction, allowing many construction activities to proceed in parallel. Site construction schedule is 36 months from first concrete to fuel loading.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) approved final design certification for the AP1000 in January 2006. The Westinghouse AP1000 standard plant design is the first Generation III+ reactor to receive FDA from the NRC. Generation III+ is the new generation of competitive reactor designs that will follow the Generation III Advanced Light Water Reactors developed in the 1990s.
CHINA LOOKS TO NUCLEAR FUTURE
China now generates nearly 80% of its electricity from coal, resulting in huge pollution emissions. Major Chinese cities are already suffering power outages, and consumption is expected to grow from almost 2 trillion kWh today to 4.5 trillion kWh 2020. The country is building dams, windmills and nuclear power stations in response.
China now has nine nuclear reactors in operation, two more connected to the grid and around eight more under construction or about to start construction. Nuclear capacity is planned to be 40GWe by 2020, at a cost of around 40bn, involving another 30 or so new power plants. That would nearly double the nuclear electrical share from just over 2% to 4% by 2020. It will, however, increase its already heavy reliance on imported uranium for fuel.
WESTINGHOUSE CONSORTIUM PARTNERS
Westinghouses consortium partners include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (which has supplied all of Japan's 23 PWR reactors), and the Shaw Group as Architect Engineer. Shaw has also established a Joint Venture Partnership in Shaw YPC Piping (Nanjing) Co. Ltd, completing a major project in Nanjing, and completing Balance of Plant engineering work at Lungmen in Taiwan. Shaw is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and with offices worldwide including in Beijing.
"The passive safety systems are significantly simpler than traditional PWR safety systems and do not require the large network of safety support systems needed by typical nuclear plants."Around the same time as it announced the China contract, Westinghouse announced it has acquired IST Nuclear (ISTN). ISTN provides services to South Africa's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project. The acquisition is significant because China has the worlds only working (experimental) Pebble Bed plant, and is developing another at Shanghai.
There are however engineering challenges facing PBMRs, particularly fuel and containment. South Africa and China are already collaborating on R&D for Pebble Bed, apparently to develop and commercialise High Temperature Reactor (HTR) projects in the two countries.
In China, the first series of HTR plants will be indirect cycle steam turbine systems, as opposed to direct cycle gas turbine systems in South Africa.
As a result of the orders for its nuclear plant, Westinghouse is setting up a new location in Cranberry, Pittsburgh, adding over 1000 new engineering jobs. This new center will help designing new generation III+ and IV plants.
Expand Image
Westinghouse is building four AP1000 nuclear plants in China.
Expand Image
Engineering design and some procurements have already begun for the planned Chinese plants.
Expand Image
Construction of the Chinese reactors is expected to start in 2009.
Expand Image
The four plants will be built in pairs at Sanmen and Haiyang.
Expand Image
Passive systems on the AP1000 use gravity, natural circulation and compressed gas there are no pumps, fans, diesels, chillers, or other rotating machines in the safety sub-systems.
Expand Image
Westinghouse is expected to bring the first plant on line in 2013.
Westinghouse AP100 Power Technology
Westinghouse AP100, China
Key Data
Announcement of contractDecember 2006
Construction start Expected to start in 2009
Start of operation Starting 2013Output around 1150MWe
Plant type AP1000
Location Four reactors in Sanmen and Haiyang
Estimated investment Reported to be 400m plus 15m for each reactor
Full specifications
Westinghouse is building four AP1000 nuclear plants in China, representing the countrys first construction of advanced US nuclear plants.
A framework agreement has been signed with State Nuclear Power Technology Company of China (SNPTC). Work has started on the reactors, with engineering design and long lead time procurements for major forgings already in progress. Construction proper is expected to start in 2009.
The four plants will be the first implementation of Westinghouse's new AP1000 reactor design, and will be built in pairs at Sanmen and Haiyang. The first plant is expected on line in 2013, which would make it the first ever AP1000 to generate electricity. The remaining three plants are expected in 2014 and 2015.
"The four plants will be the first implementation of Westinghouse's new AP1000 reactor design."Westinghouse has reportedly agreed to transfer the technology to China for 400m, and only 15m for each reactor. Westinghouse is now working with its Chinese customer to negotiate final contract details.
The AP1000 has also been identified as the technology of choice for 12 new projected plants in the US. The deal will generate more than 5,000 jobs in the US.
AP1000 DEVELOPED FROM AP600 POWER PLANT
The AP1000 will generate around 1150MWe, and uses a similar principle to the existing AP600 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) design. The two-loop configuration needed minimal changes to the AP600 design with, for example, the nuclear island footprint and the core diameter being unchanged.
The passive safety systems are significantly simpler than traditional PWR safety systems and do not require the large network of safety support systems needed by typical nuclear plants. That includes AC power, HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning), cooling water systems and the seismic buildings needed to house these components.
Passive systems use gravity, natural circulation and compressed gas. No pumps, fans, diesels, chillers, or other rotating machines are used in the safety sub-systems. That means 50% fewer valves, 83% less piping, 87% less control cable, 35% fewer pumps and 50% less seismic building volume than a similarly sized conventional plant. The simplified construction will also reduce operator actions. The passive design means operators would not need to take immediate action after an accident, with the reactor instead safely shutting down on its own.
All the passive systems have been designed to meet the NRC single-failure criteria and its recent criteria, including TMI (Three Mile Island) lessons-learned and unresolved/generic safety issues. Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) tools have also been used to quantify the safety of the design.
TWO STEAM GENERATORS
The AP1000 Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) plant configuration consists of two Delta−125 steam generators, each connected to the reactor pressure vessel by a single hot leg and two cold legs. Four reactor coolant pumps circulate the reactor coolant for heat removal. A pressuriser is connected to one of the hot leg pipes to maintain subcooling in the Reactor Coolant System (RCS).
AP1000 fuel design is based on the 17x17 XL design used at plants in the US and Europe. The AP1000 has a taller reactor vessel than the AP600, larger steam generators (Delta−125), a larger pressuriser and slightly taller, canned reactor coolant pumps with higher reactor coolant flows. As with AP600, studies have shown that AP1000 can operate with a full core loading of MOX fuel. The AP1000 has a modular construction, allowing many construction activities to proceed in parallel. Site construction schedule is 36 months from first concrete to fuel loading.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) approved final design certification for the AP1000 in January 2006. The Westinghouse AP1000 standard plant design is the first Generation III+ reactor to receive FDA from the NRC. Generation III+ is the new generation of competitive reactor designs that will follow the Generation III Advanced Light Water Reactors developed in the 1990s.
CHINA LOOKS TO NUCLEAR FUTURE
China now generates nearly 80% of its electricity from coal, resulting in huge pollution emissions. Major Chinese cities are already suffering power outages, and consumption is expected to grow from almost 2 trillion kWh today to 4.5 trillion kWh 2020. The country is building dams, windmills and nuclear power stations in response.
China now has nine nuclear reactors in operation, two more connected to the grid and around eight more under construction or about to start construction. Nuclear capacity is planned to be 40GWe by 2020, at a cost of around 40bn, involving another 30 or so new power plants. That would nearly double the nuclear electrical share from just over 2% to 4% by 2020. It will, however, increase its already heavy reliance on imported uranium for fuel.
WESTINGHOUSE CONSORTIUM PARTNERS
Westinghouses consortium partners include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (which has supplied all of Japan's 23 PWR reactors), and the Shaw Group as Architect Engineer. Shaw has also established a Joint Venture Partnership in Shaw YPC Piping (Nanjing) Co. Ltd, completing a major project in Nanjing, and completing Balance of Plant engineering work at Lungmen in Taiwan. Shaw is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and with offices worldwide including in Beijing.
"The passive safety systems are significantly simpler than traditional PWR safety systems and do not require the large network of safety support systems needed by typical nuclear plants."Around the same time as it announced the China contract, Westinghouse announced it has acquired IST Nuclear (ISTN). ISTN provides services to South Africa's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project. The acquisition is significant because China has the worlds only working (experimental) Pebble Bed plant, and is developing another at Shanghai.
There are however engineering challenges facing PBMRs, particularly fuel and containment. South Africa and China are already collaborating on R&D for Pebble Bed, apparently to develop and commercialise High Temperature Reactor (HTR) projects in the two countries.
In China, the first series of HTR plants will be indirect cycle steam turbine systems, as opposed to direct cycle gas turbine systems in South Africa.
As a result of the orders for its nuclear plant, Westinghouse is setting up a new location in Cranberry, Pittsburgh, adding over 1000 new engineering jobs. This new center will help designing new generation III+ and IV plants.
Expand Image
Westinghouse is building four AP1000 nuclear plants in China.
Expand Image
Engineering design and some procurements have already begun for the planned Chinese plants.
Expand Image
Construction of the Chinese reactors is expected to start in 2009.
Expand Image
The four plants will be built in pairs at Sanmen and Haiyang.
Expand Image
Passive systems on the AP1000 use gravity, natural circulation and compressed gas there are no pumps, fans, diesels, chillers, or other rotating machines in the safety sub-systems.
Expand Image
Westinghouse is expected to bring the first plant on line in 2013.
Westinghouse AP100 Power Technology
