Karachi 2 reactor internals in place
.jpg)
Reactor internals are the major structures within a reactor pressure vessel that have one or more functions such as supporting the core, maintaining fuel alignment, directing primary coolant flow, providing radiation shields for the reactor vessel, and guiding in-core instrumentation.
"As the core component of the reactor pressure vessel, the internal components of the reactor are all stainless steel structures with high manufacturing and assembly precision," China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.
Installation of the reactor internals within the unit's reactor pressure vessel was completed at 2:38pm on 28 January, CNNC announced today. The company noted that this was 35 days ahead of schedule.
The reactor internals were designed by China Nuclear Power Research and Design Institute and manufactured by the Shanghai No.1 Machine Tool Plant.
Karachi 2 and 3 are the first export of China's Hualong One design, with construction of unit 2 beginning in 2015 and unit 3 in 2016. The units are scheduled for commercial operation in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In addition to the two units under construction at Karachi, four Hualong One units are being built in China. CNNC is constructing two units at its Fuqing plant in Fujian province, while China General Nuclear (CGN) is building two at its Fangchenggang site in Guangxi province. All four units are expected to enter commercial operation in 2019-2020.
CGN proposes to use a UK version of its Hualong One design - the HPR1000 - at a prospective new nuclear power plant at Bradwell, England.
_92619.jpg)
