China has unveiled its Hualong One 2.0 nuclear reactor technology, based on the existing Hualong One design. This new Gen III+ class design aims to significantly enhance safety while simplifying plant construction, operation, and maintenance.
Introduced by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), the reactor also focuses on achieving higher automation, easier operation and maintenance, and improved environmental performance.
No intervention needed for 72 hours after an accident
One of the most significant innovations in the new design lies in its safety systems. Hualong One 2.0 is engineered to operate for 72 hours without operator intervention after an accident. The system can also sustain itself for up to seven days under accident conditions.
While retaining the multi-layered defense approach of Hualong One, 14 safety features have been optimized, and nine key safety indicators have been improved. On the automation front, the automatic operation rate has been increased by 66 percent, aiming for more precise control of systems and reduced response times.
China has also simplified the physical structure of the reactor. In Hualong One 2.0, the total length of pipelines was reduced by 31 percent, and the number of process valves by 25 percent. The volume of nuclear island buildings was decreased by 21 percent, and the installation volume was reduced by approximately 33 percent.
CGN states that critical equipment is designed with 100 percent localization capacity. The company undertook nearly 100 optimizations with industry partners, leveraging Hualong One experiences, before arriving at the new design.
To date, 10 Hualong One reactors have entered commercial operation, with 37 more reactors approved and under construction. Hualong One 2.0 is now expected to transition from the design phase to an actual power plant project. The Executive Meeting of the State Council of China approved eight nuclear power units on July 31. Among these projects, the third phase of CGN's Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong has been designated as the demonstration project for Hualong One 2.0.
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