First main pump installed in Chinese SMR

Thursday, 17 April 2025

The shielded main pump of the ACP100 - also referred to as the Linglong One - is a single-speed vertical fully-sealed pump, which must meet stringent requirements such as high safety, full sealing, and long life. The first of the four pumps for the demonstration project was produced by Hainan Nuclear Power and Harbin Electric Equipment and was shipped to the construction site in March.

_{(Image: CNNC)}

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said the installation of the first pump - which it refers to as the "heart" of the reactor coolant system - "further demonstrates China's comprehensive strength in the design of new nuclear energy systems, high-end equipment manufacturing and coordinated management of complex projects". 

_{(Image: CNNC)}

CNNC announced in July 2019 the launch of a project to construct an ACP100 SMR at Changjiang. The site is already home to two operating CNP600 pressurised water reactors (PWRs), while the construction of two Hualong One units began in March and December 2021. Both those units are due to enter commercial operation by the end of 2026.

First concrete for the ACP100 was poured on 13 July 2021, with a planned total construction period of 58 months. Equipment installation work commenced in December 2022 and the main internal structure of the reactor building was completed in March 2023. The outer containment dome was hoisted into place in February this year.

_{The ACP100 SMR construction site (Image: CNNC)}

Under development since 2010, the 125 MWe ACP100 integrated PWR's preliminary design was completed in 2014. In 2016, the design became the first SMR to pass a safety review by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Once completed, the Changjiang ACP100 reactor will be capable of producing 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of 526,000 households. The reactor is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.