Hot tests completed at fourth Yangjiang unit

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Unit 4 of the Yangjiang nuclear power plant in China's Guangdong province has successfully completed pre-operational testing, China General Nuclear (CGN) announced yesterday.

Workers celebrate the completion of hot tests at Yangjiang 4 (Image: CGN)

Hot tests officially began at the unit on 22 August and were successfully completed at 2.24pm on 23 September, plant constructor China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company said.

The hot tests aim to simulate the temperatures and pressures which the reactor's systems will be subjected to during normal operation. This important phase ensures coolant circuits and nuclear safety systems are functioning properly before fuel can be loaded. CGN described the tests as a "dress rehearsal" of plant operations before fuel loading.

Six units are planned for the Yangjiang site. The first four units are 1080 MWe CPR-1000 pressurized water reactors, with units 5 and 6 being ACPR-1000s. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in March 2015, with units 2 and 3 following in June 2015 and January 2016, respectively.

China's post-Fukushima hiatus in new reactor approvals meant the start of construction of unit 4 was delayed until November 2012. The unit is scheduled to start up next year.

First concrete for Yangjiang unit 5 was poured in September 2013, with that for unit 6 following three months later.

All six reactors should be in operation by 2019, producing a grand total of around 6100 MWe.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News