Progress on conventional island of Chinese SMR

"According to the design characteristics, the conventional island of the small reactor project is divided into the inner retaining wall and outer retaining wall, and is divided into five sections according to the construction logic," China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.

It added, "The successful completion of this node has created favourable conditions for the subsequent construction work, such as the construction of the BOP [balance of plant] workshop around the conventional island."

The conventional island begins to take shape alongside the nuclear island (Image: CNNC)

CNNC announced in July 2019 the launch of a project to construct an ACP100 reactor - also referred to as the Linglong One - at Changjiang. The site is already home to two operating CNP600 PWRs, while the construction of the two Hualong One units began in March and December last year. Both those units are due to enter commercial operation by the end of 2026.

Construction of the multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) officially started on 13 July 2021, with a planned total construction period of 58 months.

The final concrete for the foundation slab of the conventional island was poured on 3 May this year. The slab - measuring 60 metres in length and 53 metres in width and containing some 1300 tonnes of steel reinforcement - was built in nine sections. The thickness of the foundation of the steam turbine base is 2.5 metres, with the thickness of the other sections varying between 1 metre and 4 metres.

Once completed, the Changjiang ACP100 reactor will be capable of producing 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of 526,000 households. The reactor is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.

Under development since 2010, the ACP100 integrated PWR's preliminary design was completed in 2014. The major components of its primary coolant circuit are installed within the reactor pressure vessel. In 2016, the design became the first SMR to pass a safety review by the International Atomic Energy Agency.