For the first time, Hualong-1 reached a critical state for the first time in the world

Source: Science and Technology Daily

Science and Technology Daily Beijing, October 21 (Reporter Chen Yu) At 15:09 on the 21st, Hualong No. 1 reached a critical state for the first time in Fuqing Nuclear Power Unit 5 of cnncing China Nuclear Corporation, marking that the unit officially entered the state of operation with power and took an important step towards completion and production.

The nuclear reactor critically resembles the ignition process of a conventional thermal power plant boiler, and is also like a heart pacing. After the criticality, the core, which is the "heart" of the reactor, will begin to "beat" continuously, and the reactor will be in a state of nuclear equilibrium operation.

With the approval of the State Nuclear Safety Administration, the East China Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station verified the release, and Unit 5 began the critical operation of the reactor. By diluting the first-loop boron concentration and lifting the control rod operation, the reactor reached a critical state for the first time. In the critical process of the unit, Fuqing Nuclear Power and its participating units adhere to the principle of "safety first, quality first", adhere to the core values of "responsibility, safety, innovation and coordination", carry forward the strict and meticulous work style, operate in strict accordance with technical regulations, the whole process is smooth and orderly, and the system operating parameters are normal.

Hualong No. 1 is a third-generation nuclear power technology with completely independent property rights in China, and is the "national business card" of China's nuclear power to the world. At present, the progress of China National Nuclear Corporation's Hualong No. 1 project at home and abroad is proceeding in an orderly manner, and the safety and quality of the construction project are in a good and controlled state.

On May 7, 2015, the first tank of concrete (FCD) was poured on the nuclear island foundation of Fuqing Nuclear Power Unit 5, and the world's first reactor of Hualong No. 1 took root. On September 10, 2020, Fuqing Nuclear Power Unit 5 successfully completed the loading of 177 sets of fuel components, marking that Hualong 1 entered the nuclear commissioning stage of the main system.