World's First AP1000 Nuclear Power Unit Begins Overall Erection of Main System

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--The welding of Ring A in the main coolant pipeline for Unit 1 of China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC) (Beijing) Sanmen Nuclear Power Station, the first AP1000 nuclear power unit in the world, kicked off recently. This means that the unit has entered the main system's overall erection stage, according to an announcement from State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation Limited (SNPTC) (Beijing), the technical general contractor of the project, on November 9, 2012.

The main pipeline is referred as the "aorta" of the coolant system in the nuclear power plant. It links the reactor, steam generators and reactor coolant pumps into a closed loop. On October 22, 2012, the first main pipeline (L002B) of Unit 1 was erected into the chamber of the reactor and steam generator, which created the condition required for the assembling and welding of the main equipment. On November 5, the groove at the steam generator side was prepared. The welding of Ring A then kicked off on November 6. So far, the erection is progressing smoothly.

The Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant, located in Sanmen of East China's Zhejiang province, is one of the two self-reliant support projects for the localization of Westinghouse's AP1000 third-generation nuclear power technology in China. The power plant has a total planned capacity of six 1,250-megawatt (MW) nuclear power units to be built in three phases, of which two AP1000-based nuclear power units are to be built in Phase I. China Nuclear Industry Fifth Construction Company Limited (Shanghai) is serving as the construction general contractor.

Construction of the nuclear island for Unit 1 kicked off in March 2009. Concrete placing for the conventional island of Unit 1 was completed on January 28, 2011. According to the schedule, Unit 1 of the project is expected to begin commercial operations in November 2013.

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