China starts up first fourth generation nuclear reactor

[aimarraul]

China starts up first fourth generation nuclear reactor
English.news.cn 2010-07-22 07:22:44

BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have succeeded in testing the country's first experimental fourth generation nuclear reactor, an expert said here on Wednesday.

The successful start up of the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) marked a breakthrough in China's fourth generation nuclear technology, and made China the eighth country in the world to own the technology, Zhang Donghui, general manager of the CEFR project, told Xinhua over phone.

China's existing 11 nuclear power generating units all use second generation of nuclear power generation technology. The country started the construction of its first third-generation pressurized water reactors using AP1000 technologies developed by U.S.-based Westinghouse in 2009.

Compared with the third generation reactors which have an utility rate of uranium of just one percent, CEFR boasts an utility rate of more than 60 percent.

A new recycling technology called pyroprocessing is also used to close the fuel cycle by separating the unused fuel from most of the radioactive waste.

"The CEFR is safer, more environment-friendly, and more economic than its predecessors," Zhang said.

 

[graphican]

@aimarraul;

Wao, did they jumped from 2nd generation to 4th generation in one leap? Sounds impressive!

 

[aimarraul]

@aimarraul;

Wao, did they jumped from 2nd generation to 4th generation in one leap? Sounds impressive!

the burden is heavy and the road is long

China signs up Russian fast reactors
15 October 2009

A high-level agreement has been signed for Russia to start pre-project and design works for two commercial 800 MWe fast neutron reactors in China, while a deal for more conventional reactors draws closer.

This follows a call twelve months ago by the Russian-Chinese Nuclear Cooperation Commission for construction of a demonstration fast reactor similar to the BN-800 unit being built at Beloyarsk in Russia and due to start up in 2012. Earlier this year, St Petersburg Atomenergopoekt said it was starting design work on a BN-800 reactor for China, with two proposed at coastal sites. The project is expected to lead to bilateral cooperation on fuel cycles for fast reactors.

Russia and China are already cooperating on one fast reactor, a small 65 MWt sodium-cooled unit known as the Chinese Experimental Fast Reactor at the China Institute of Atomic Energy near Beijing. OKBM Afrikantov is leading a Russian collaboration to build the unit, which is nearing completion and is expected to achieve first criticality later this year.

Commercial-scale fast reactors based on it were envisaged but these may now give way to the Russian BN-800 project, which would be the first time commercial-scale fast neutron reactors have ever been exported. While thermal-spectrum nuclear reactors are the mainstay of atomic energy at the moment, by about 2040 future fuel cycles based on fast-spectrum reactors could extend uranium supplies for many centuries. While several leading nuclear nations have developed prototypes with varying levels of success, only Russia is currently committed to their commercial use.



The fast reactor deal was made yesterday during a visit by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin to Beijing for talks with Premier Wen Jiabao. In attendance were the respective heads of the country's centrally-planned nuclear programs, Sergey Kiriyenko of Rosatom and Sun Qin of China National Nuclear Corporation.

Part of the delegation paid a visit to the Tianwan nuclear power plant in Jiangsu province, where two Russian VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors already operate. Two more are slated for the site and negotiations reportedly placed a ceiling on the price of these before moving on to consider another four similar units at the power plant.

 

[ao333]

the burden is heavy and the road is long

China signs up Russian fast reactors
15 October 2009

A high-level agreement has been signed for Russia to start pre-project and design works for two commercial 800 MWe fast neutron reactors in China, while a deal for more conventional reactors draws closer.

This follows a call twelve months ago by the Russian-Chinese Nuclear Cooperation Commission for construction of a demonstration fast reactor similar to the BN-800 unit being built at Beloyarsk in Russia and due to start up in 2012. Earlier this year, St Petersburg Atomenergopoekt said it was starting design work on a BN-800 reactor for China, with two proposed at coastal sites. The project is expected to lead to bilateral cooperation on fuel cycles for fast reactors.

Russia and China are already cooperating on one fast reactor, a small 65 MWt sodium-cooled unit known as the Chinese Experimental Fast Reactor at the China Institute of Atomic Energy near Beijing. OKBM Afrikantov is leading a Russian collaboration to build the unit, which is nearing completion and is expected to achieve first criticality later this year.

Commercial-scale fast reactors based on it were envisaged but these may now give way to the Russian BN-800 project, which would be the first time commercial-scale fast neutron reactors have ever been exported. While thermal-spectrum nuclear reactors are the mainstay of atomic energy at the moment, by about 2040 future fuel cycles based on fast-spectrum reactors could extend uranium supplies for many centuries. While several leading nuclear nations have developed prototypes with varying levels of success, only Russia is currently committed to their commercial use.



The fast reactor deal was made yesterday during a visit by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin to Beijing for talks with Premier Wen Jiabao. In attendance were the respective heads of the country's centrally-planned nuclear programs, Sergey Kiriyenko of Rosatom and Sun Qin of China National Nuclear Corporation.

Part of the delegation paid a visit to the Tianwan nuclear power plant in Jiangsu province, where two Russian VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors already operate. Two more are slated for the site and negotiations reportedly placed a ceiling on the price of these before moving on to consider another four similar units at the power plant.

No wonder, half Russian...I was surprised how you guys managed to be #8.

 

[Brotherhood]

China makes breakthrough in 4th-generation nuclear tech CCTV News - CNTV English 07-22-2010

China has made a breakthrough to develop the fourth generation nuclear technology, as it turned to clean energy to drive its economy.

The fourth-generation nuclear technology developed under the so called "Experimental Fast Reactor program", has advantages in increasing efficiency of uranium use, and reducing nuclear waste.

Over 70 percent of the reactor's equipment is self-developed. China is the fifth country in the world that has developed such technology after the United States, Russia, France and Japan. The project underscores the country's efforts to develop nuclear energy to help cut reliance on more polluting coal and oil.

China now gets less than two percent of its power-generating capacity from nuclear, compared with the 17 percent world average. It plans to increase the nuclear usage by six times in ten years.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Good work.

I personally prefer Hydropower (fantastic value for money) and Wind, but it's good to diversify our Energy sources.

 

[indushek]

Congratulations on this achievement.

 

[Faizan Qadri]

Very very good news for China
but what kind of nuclear reactors is China delivering to Pakistan, 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

China starts up first fourth generation nuclear reactor
English.news.cn 2010-07-22 07:22:44

BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have succeeded in testing the country's first experimental fourth generation nuclear reactor, an expert said here on Wednesday.

The successful start up of the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) marked a breakthrough in China's fourth generation nuclear technology, and made China the eighth country in the world to own the technology, Zhang Donghui, general manager of the CEFR project, told Xinhua over phone.

China's existing 11 nuclear power generating units all use second generation of nuclear power generation technology. The country started the construction of its first third-generation pressurized water reactors using AP1000 technologies developed by U.S.-based Westinghouse in 2009.

Compared with the third generation reactors which have an utility rate of uranium of just one percent, CEFR boasts an utility rate of more than 60 percent.

A new recycling technology called pyroprocessing is also used to close the fuel cycle by separating the unused fuel from most of the radioactive waste.

"The CEFR is safer, more environment-friendly, and more economic than its predecessors," Zhang said.

Look forward to the 4th generation plant to help with our energy crisis, what the max MW output of these plants ??

 

[India Rising]

why i have seen whenever Chinese something new, pakistani friends instantly asking that for themselves(whatever it is). this is actually belittle themselves. i think SAARC country donot take pride of their own achievements (no offense). but its a fact

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

why i have seen whenever Chinese something new, pakistani friends instantly asking that for themselves(whatever it is).

What is wrong with buying things from other countries? Everybody does it.

If our allies need something, we should do our best to give it to them.

 

[India Rising]

What is wrong with buying things from other countries? Everybody does it.

If our allies need something, we should do our best to give it to them.

nothing is wrong, but self reliance is a better option. if u enter in JV then it is good bcoz there will be learning. i hope u get my point

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

nothing is wrong, but self reliance is a better option. if u enter in JV then it is good bcoz there will be learning. i hope u get my point

Fair enough, you make a good point.

 

[faithfulguy]

nothing is wrong, but self reliance is a better option. if u enter in JV then it is good bcoz there will be learning. i hope u get my point

I understand your point. But sometimes, it would take too long to produce some equipment and the item under production may be obsolete when its completed. In that case, buying or jv is a better option.

 

[somebozo]

Tha Pak-China nuke deal is still to commence and i guess what ever latest present will be offered. The biggest obstruction to this deal is not NSG but risk of American technology making way into Pakistan without explicit American approval. However a parallel nuclear deal with USA will eliminate these concerns, possibility of which is very much real.

In the spring of 2007 China National Nuclear Corp. selected the Westinghouse/Shaw consortium to build four nuclear reactors for an estimated US$8 billion. As of April 2010[update], these are the only units in the world to have started construction.

CAP1400 development
In 2008 and 2009 Westinghouse made agreements to work with the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) and other institutes to develop a larger design, probably of 1400 MWe capacity, possibly followed by a 1700 MWe design. China will own the intellectual property rights for these larger designs. Exporting the new larger units may be possible with Westinghouse's cooperation.[11]

In December 2009, a Chinese joint venture was set up to build an initial CAP1400 near the HTR-10 Shidaowan site. Construction is expected to start in 2013, operating in 2017.[11]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP1000