SCHOTT has announced that its electrical penetration assemblies will be used in the Chinese high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR-PM), currently under construction at Shidowan in Shandong province.

The key function of EPAs in nuclear power plants is to provide the pass-through for power, control and instrumentation cables to the thousands of instruments, control panels, electric motors and many other electric and electronic devices within the containment.

Electrical penetrations made with glass-to-metal sealing technology are the only solution of their kind that can be used in the primary loop of an HTR due to their ability to withstand the high temperatures and pressures of the environment, according to SCHOTT.

SCHOTT worked with China’s Chinergy Co., Ltd and Jiamusi Electric Machine Co., Ltd to develop a tailored EPA solution to meet the installation requirements and harsh conditions of HTR-PM. The reactor is due to start up in 2018 and is expected to pave the way for a larger 600MW commercial demonstration HTR.

“The incorporation of glass-to-metal sealed EPAs in the primary loop of HTRs is a promising step forward for shaping the future of next-gen nuclear power,” said Thomas Fink, general manager of SCHOTT’s nuclear safety division.

“In HTR applications, glass-sealed EPAs are the only viable feedthrough option for the primary loop as the polymer can become compromised and fail under the extreme environmental stress.”

Fink also noted that glass-sealed EPAs are an option for existing nuclear plants as they maintain uncompromised seal integrity for 60 years in comparison to polymer-based seals, which need replacement over time.