Workers preparing for connection of nuclear island primary circuit
The first of two steam generators has been hoisted into place at Unit 4 of the Haiyang nuclear power station in Shandong province, northeastern China, paving the way for the connection of the primary circuit of the nuclear island and the capping of the reactor building.
In a pressurised water reactor (PWR) system, the steam generators transfer heat produced by the nuclear reaction to turn demineralised water into steam which is used to power the turbines.
Each steam generator at Haiyang has a diameter of nearly six metres, a length of about 24 metres and a net weight of over 630 tonnes.
The component was hoisted into place within the reactor building on 13 August in an operation lasting three hours and 22 minutes.
Haiyang-4 is a 1,161-MW CAP1000 pressurised water reactor, China’s Generation III indigenous version of US-based Westinghouse’s AP1000 design.
Construction of Haiyang-4 began in April 2023. A twin unit, Haiyang-3, has been under construction the site since July 2022.
The Haiyang nuclear power station also has two AP1000 PWR units that have been in commercial operation since 2018 and 2019.
According to International Atomic Energy Agency data, China has 57 nuclear units under construction and 29 in commercial operation.
