Hot testing of the reactor plant at unit 7 of China’s Tianwan NPP in Jiangsu province is underway, paving the way for full-scale commissioning.
“Hot testing is a key stage when we actually “revive” the power unit. Each parameter, each operating mode of the equipment is checked under conditions as close as possible to operational ones, but without the use of nuclear fuel,” explained Fedor Zuev, project manager of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering Technology, NPO TsNIITMASH (part of Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering Division). “This is a comprehensive exam for all systems of the unit, confirming their readiness for safe and reliable work for decades to come.”
At Tianwan 8, which is being built with the support of Rosatom, the critical stage of construction was completed ahead of schedule – welding of the main circulation pipeline, which connects the reactor vessel, steam generators and main circulation pumps.
The work was carried out under the close supervision of specialists from NPO TsNIITMASH. They carried out comprehensive technological support, including quality control of welded joints, monitoring of heat treatment, and non-destructive testing.
In 2018, Russia and China signed four agreements, including for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors for Tianwan units 7&8. Construction of unit 7 began in May 2021, and unit 8 in February 2022. The units are scheduled to be commissioned in 2026-2027. Tianwan 1-4, with VVER-1000 reactors, commissioned between 2007 and 2018, are already in operation. Units 5&6 with Chinese ACPR-1000s were commissioned in 2020 and 2021.
Tianwan NPP is owned and operated by the Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, whose shareholders are CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
