High energy ahead, Chinese nuclear energy!
From catching up to surpassing, generation after generation of scientists have overcome layers of difficulties and reached the pinnacle of the world's nuclear energy science and technology innovation.
Painstaking work is a true portrayal of their scientific path.
With years of unremitting exploration of nuclear energy technology, they use hard work and struggle to interpret what is a great country craftsman.
Cast brilliance with struggle, and write a brilliant chapter with ingenuity.
They are not afraid of difficulties and dangers, and use science to contribute to the well-being of mankind.
In the sixth season of the interview program "Shede Wisdom People" jointly produced by Shede Liquor, Phoenix.com, and Dragon TV, this issue talks to Zhang Zuoyi, chief engineer of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor engineering of major national science and technology projects and dean of the Institute of Nuclear Energy and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University.
"It's everyone's dream"
In 1960, the construction of the Atomic Energy Experimental Base of Tsinghua University began in Huyu, Changping, Beijing, which is also known as "No. 200", which gave birth to the world's most advanced nuclear technology.
At the time of its construction, No. 200 was led by hundreds of outstanding students from various faculties of Tsinghua University, led by Professor Lu Yingzhong, the first director of the Nuclear Energy Research Institute, in his 30s, who wanted to build a test nuclear reactor.
In 1964, the nuclear reactor was built, which became a major event in China's educational circles at that time.
In the 70s of the 20th century, the Tsinghua No. 200 base completed the key technology of China's refining of atomic bomb materials, and made contributions to the two bombs.
In the 80s, Academician Wang Dazhong led the Nuclear Research Institute to build a 5MW low-temperature nuclear heating reactor, which was the first time in mainland China to realize the integrated pressurized water reactor technology. Subsequently, the 10MW high-temperature gas-cooled experimental reactor project was launched.
Zhang Zuoyi, who was a graduate student at the time, was also a member of this team.
In 1979, Zhang Zuoyi was admitted to Tsinghua University, and after graduation, he entered the Nuclear Research Institute for graduate and doctoral studies.
In 1984, when he first came to No. 200, "these teachers lived in a ravine [at the time], and then they had to buy something and go into the city, and from here they had to take a train to enter the city...... The living conditions at that time, including in all respects, were very poor".
What kept them going?
"I think the most important thing is to be an idealist, who wants to contribute to the country's high-tech, the high-tech of atomic energy."
Along the way, he was touched by Academician Wang Dazhong and other teachers, "This place, the mountain being climbed, is a dream for everyone, so I hope to join this team to achieve it."
At the age of 27, Zhang Zuoyi received a doctorate. After graduating, he went to Germany as a visiting scholar at the Jülich Research Center, and at the age of 32, he became one of the youngest professors at Tsinghua University.
In 2001, 39-year-old Zhang Zuoyi became the president of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute. From a member of the team to a watchman, Zhang Zuoyi sighed, "I feel the power of inheritance. This work is the lifelong effort of two generations, hundreds or thousands of people."
"That's when I think I'm seeing this light."
In 2006, Zhang Zuoyi was appointed as the designer and full-time technical leader of the "High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Nuclear Power Plant" project.
Independent intellectual property rights, the world's first, demonstration power station - in the face of pressure, Zhang Zuoyi led the team to start a long journey.
Over the years, Zhang Zuoyi and his colleagues have given up a series of hobbies and devoted all their energy to doing experiments and scientific research, even day and night when they are busiest.
It is also the willingness of the team members to push the project forward.
However, in addition to the guarantee of time and energy, as a decision-maker, major technical choices often test Zhang Zuoyi's professionalism and mentality.
If the decision is wrong, billions of investment will be lost, and it is possible that China will lag far behind the developed countries in the research and development of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology.
In the end, he finally made a big decision: to use a conventional steam turbine instead of the more advanced helium turbine similar to a gas turbine in the demonstration project, and to use a smaller, simpler reactor module technology, with two modules in one machine to generate 200,000 kilowatts of power from the unit.
In 2008, the overall implementation plan of the major project was approved by the State Council, and Tsinghua University became the only university to take the lead in implementing the major project.
In October 2009, the nuclear power plant successfully completed a safety review after finding data support, answering thousands of questions in writing, and convening a meeting of the country's top nuclear safety experts.
On March 1, 2011, the project was approved by the executive meeting of the State Council.
However, before the official start of construction, on March 11, the earthquake in Japan caused an explosion in the building where the reactor of the Fukushima nuclear power plant is located.
On March 14, the State Council held an emergency meeting to suspend the nuclear power plants that had not yet started construction, and all nuclear power plants under construction were to undergo safety inspections.
Zhang Zuoyi's team ushered in the most torturous waiting time.
"We just put all the possibilities of Fukushima on this reactor, including plane collisions, seawater, tsunamis, flooding, earthquakes, failures of various equipment, human interference, etc., and answer them one by one."
In December 2012, the State Council approved the start of construction again, "at this time I feel that I can see this light".
"Be an idealist with practical ability"
The use of nuclear energy has been a controversial issue.
In March 1979, about 200,000 people were evacuated from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the United States, and in April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union exploded, and the city of Pripyat was abandoned to this day......
The nuclear catastrophes that have occurred in history have made mankind have a great fear of such an invisible and deadly thing as nuclear weapons.
In the face of fear and skepticism, countries have very different attitudes towards the development of nuclear energy. In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, anti-nuclear sentiment in Germany has risen, prompting the German government to take action. In April 2023, Germany shut down the last three nuclear power plants, ending more than 60 years of commercial nuclear use, while France is highly dependent on nuclear power......
"In fact, everyone is worried about safety", how nuclear energy can be used safely and controllably for human beings is a hill that generations of scientists have been trying to climb.
The best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on.
"Human fear is always there, so what really makes it less common is that you have to learn more about it."
As an ordinary person, Zhang Zuoyi also hopes that "it is better for the world to have no atomic bombs".
However, he also believes that in the face of the development of nuclear technology in various countries, it is also necessary to have the ability to practice "seeking goodness".
In the context of the "dual carbon" goal, nuclear power has become an important option for energy transition.
As scientists, what they can do is to "do our best to ensure that this nuclear energy does not end up with an accident like Fukushima, so that this nuclear energy can truly serve the happiness of people and the lives of mankind."
On December 20, 2021, the No. 1 reactor of Huaneng Shidaowan High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Nuclear Power Plant with Zhang Zuoyi as the chief designer was successfully connected to the grid for power generation.
On December 6, 2023, the Huaneng Shidaowan High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Nuclear Power Plant Demonstration Project was put into commercial operation, becoming the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant to be put into commercial operation, marking that China has reached the world's leading level in the field of fourth-generation nuclear power technology.
"There is a high mountain ahead, no one climbs it, do you have the ability to climb it...... A lot of people like a new kind of challenge."
Facing the mountains ahead, generations of scientists have been sincere,
Giving up comfort and comfort, choosing to be accompanied by the mountains and dancing with hardships.
Exploring the unknown is what drives generations to move forward.
It is this spirit that pushes scientists to constantly cross the hills, break through the boundaries of science again and again, and contribute wisdom and strength to the progress of human civilization.
Their efforts have not only boosted scientific and technological progress, but also injected a strong impetus into national rejuvenation.
Today is a festival for workers, but also a festival for strivers.
Pay tribute to the open-minded heart of facing difficulties and knowing what to know, and pay tribute to the craftsman spirit of meticulous craftsmanship and rigorous pragmatism.
"Be an idealist with practical ability" - pay tribute to every worker who is silently dedicated and painstaking.
Please pay attention to the "Wise People of Shede" jointly produced by Phoenix.com, Shede Liquor and Dragon TV, on May 1, to pay tribute to those workers who are willing to dream and dedicate themselves to the times. Shede Liquor always chooses to use time to precipitate the quality of old wine, invites you to taste old wine together, learn wisdom, and take Shede as a ruler to solve for the times.