Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) announced on 28 February that the steam turbine generation systems supplied for the Sanmen and Haiyang NPPs in China had cleared all functional, safety confirmation, and other required performance tests. This includes two units at each of the plants where 1,250 MWe AP1000 reactors are in place. Sanmen 1 and Haiyang 1 have already begun operation MHPS said it had conducted thorough prior verification tests of the interface between the nuclear reactors and turbines. “Accordingly, there were absolutely no problems with interface, which had been a concern during the testing stage, and the meticulous project management and close communication led to a smooth start of official operations,” MHPS noted.
The Sanmen NPP was built by Sanmen Nuclear Power Co in Zhejiang Province, south of Shanghai, while the Haiyang NPP was built by Shandong Nuclear Power Co in Shandong Province, approximately 130 kilometers east of Qingdao. Based on a technology transfer agreement with Harbin Electric Corporation, MHPS handled the designs for the turbine, heat exchanger, and auxiliary equipment, and transferred the technology.
MHPS also manufactured and provided 12 low-pressure turbines, four high-pressure turbines, the main valves, and other equipment for all the units within the facilities. Harbin Electric handled the manufacturing of the turbine casings, heat exchangers, and other equipment, while Mitsubishi Electric and Harbin Electric each supplied two of the generators. Going forward, from the standpoint of maintaining the safety and reliability of both units after startup, MHPS plans to provide assistance including checks and repairs during the initial regular inspection.
MHPS was formed in 2014, integrating the thermal power generation systems businesses of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hitachi. The aim was “to further enhance their social response capabilities in all respects,” MHPS said. These include the technological strength to create new products of outstanding quality and reliability, the comprehensive strength in engineering to oversee projects in regions across the globe, and finely honed sales and after-sale servicing capabilities.
