First fuel loaded at Fangjiashan 1
The process of loading fuel assemblies into the reactor core of unit 1 at the Fangjiashan plant in China's Zhejiang province has begun.The process of loading fuel assemblies into the reactor core of unit 1 at the Fangjiashan plant in China's Zhejiang province has begun.
.jpg "Fangjiashan 1 fuel loading 460 (CNNC)") |
| Workers move assemblies within Fangjiashan 1's fuel pool in preparation of loading into its core (Image: CNNC) |
The first fuel assembly was loaded into the reactor's core at 3.25pm on 1 September, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. Approval for fuel loading had been received from the National Nuclear Security Administration earlier that day.
The process of loading all 157 assemblies into Fangjiashan 1's core is expected to take three days to complete. Trial operation of the CPR-1000 reactor will then be able to begin, during which many tests will be carried out. The unit is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of this year.
The Fangjiashan project will see two CPR-1000 reactors with a combined capacity of 2160 MWe constructed near the existing Qinshan plant. First concrete for the unit 1 at the Fangjiashan plant was poured in December 2008, while that for unit 2 was poured in July 2009. The second unit is expected to startup about ten months after the first.
Six CPR-1000 reactors are currently operating in China, with a further 16 under construction.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
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