The world's first nuclear-powered "mobile power bank" is not simple

"Linglong No. 1" is the world's first small modular pressurized water reactor that has passed the International Atomic Energy Agency's general safety review. It is also an innovative nuclear reactor with independent intellectual property rights developed by China National Nuclear Corporation based on mature pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants and nuclear power technologies.

01 Small reactor: the “mobile power bank” in the nuclear energy field!

A small reactor refers to a nuclear reactor with an electrical power of less than 300,000 kilowatts. We can think of it as a laptop at home, with its display, host, keyboard, etc. all gathered together. Compared with large reactors, the power of Linglong No. 1 is only 125,000 kilowatts. Although the power is low, it occupies a small area, has high safety, a short construction period, and flexible deployment . It is regarded as a "mobile power bank" in the field of nuclear energy.

The design and construction process of small reactors is by no means a simple miniaturization of large nuclear power plants. For nuclear power plants, the most critical components are the reactor and the reactor coolant system. The components of traditional large reactors are generally distributed in a decentralized manner, but "Linglong No. 1" brings together key components to form an integrated, modular reactor module , which is also the most prominent innovation of "Linglong No. 1". The integrated, modular design not only makes the reactor more compact and occupies a smaller area, but also eliminates the main pipeline in the traditional large reactor. The design eliminates the possibility of coolant loss accidents caused by the rupture of the main pipeline, making the reactor safer.

Linglong-1 cutaway display (Source: Xinhua News Agency video screenshot)

02 The "small reactor" born in anticipation

As early as the 1970s and 1980s, the International Atomic Energy Agency began to advocate the development of small and medium-sized reactors. China Nuclear Power Research and Design Institute closely followed the development trend of nuclear energy in the world. After more than ten years of hard work, it developed a multifunctional modular small pressurized water reactor with completely independent intellectual property rights. This is another major independent innovation achievement after Hualong One, filling the domestic gap.

After entering the 21st century, with the further increase in demand for clean energy in areas such as power supply in small areas or remote mountainous areas, urban winter central heating, industrial park central heating, island power supply, and offshore oil production, the comprehensive advantages of small reactors are very significant. Pressurized water reactor technology has become a priority design technology in the research and development of small reactors.

In 2003, the Nuclear Power Institute of China began exploratory research on small multi-purpose integrated reactors, targeting the needs of seawater desalination, cogeneration, and nuclear heating. It completed the conceptual plan and safety and economic assessments, laying a good foundation for the subsequent project development.

In 2009, China National Nuclear Corporation proposed the strategy of "differentiated development" in the "12th Five-Year Plan", and small reactors gradually "surfaced".

In 2010, China National Nuclear Corporation listed the research and development of small multi-purpose reactor technology as a key scientific and technological project of the group.

In 2011, CNNC officially started the research and development of modular small reactors. Also known as Linglong No. 1, it is a "brother" of the well-known Hualong No. 1.

In order to obtain a global pass, Linglong No. 1 took the initiative to accept the International Atomic Energy Agency's general reactor safety review. Finally, in 2016, it became the world's first small pressurized water reactor technology to pass the IAEA safety review. Compared with many countries in the world, which are still developing small reactors on paper, my country has taken the lead in taking the key step of implementing modular small reactor projects.

On July 13, 2021, the CNNC Hainan Changjiang Multipurpose Modular Small Reactor Technology Demonstration Project (Small Reactor Demonstration Project) officially started construction at the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant. So far, the project has become the world's first commercial onshore modular small reactor to start construction, marking that my country is at the forefront of the world in modular small reactor technology.

On September 20, 2022, the 0-meter structure inside the Linglong No. 1 reactor of Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant was cast, achieving the milestone node of the first-level progress plan of the small reactor project ahead of schedule. At present, all work at the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Construction Site is progressing steadily.

On August 10, 2023, the core module of the Linglong No. 1 reactor was successfully hoisted. The first milestone node on the critical path of the Linglong No. 1 nuclear island equipment installation was successfully completed.

03 Linglong-1: China's new "business card" for nuclear power

On the morning of February 6, 2024, at the nuclear power base in Changjiang, Hainan, the outer dome of the world's first land-based modular small nuclear reactor "Linglong No. 1" was hoisted, marking the completion of the main structure of the reactor building and laying the foundation for the subsequent topping-out of the reactor building.

Linglong No. 1 is expected to be connected to the grid and generate electricity in the first half of 2026. After completion, it will generate 1 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the needs of 526,000 households . However, the original intention of making small reactors is not to compete with large reactors in power generation, but to achieve the multi-purpose use of nuclear energy. In addition to the functions of traditional nuclear power plants, small reactors are more suitable for urban heating, industrial steam supply, seawater desalination, oil extraction, remote areas and isolated grid cogeneration, and replacement of coal-fired thermal power units .

Illustration of the uses of small reactors (Source: Xinhua News Agency video screenshot)

Small reactors have shown good prospects in the global market due to their unique advantages such as safety, deployment flexibility and versatility , especially for many countries with small power grids and small populations. In the future, Linglong-1 will serve as a new business card for China's nuclear power, promote China's nuclear energy to the world, and contribute Chinese wisdom to the application and development of nuclear power technology.

Comprehensive sources: Science and Technology Daily, Xinhuanet, Xinhua News Agency, etc.