World's First Commercial Onshore SMR Completes Hoisting of Containment's Bottom Head

The bottom head of the steel containment of Linglong One, the world's first onshore small modular reactor (SMR) for commercial use, completed hoisting ahead of schedule on Oct 24, a milestone for the multi-purpose SMR demonstration project at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in South China's Hainan Province.

The bottom head of the steel containment of Linglong One, the world's first onshore small modular reactor (SMR) for commercial use, at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province is hoisted on Oct 24. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A major part of the reactor building, the containment is a key to guarantee nuclear security. It consists of three parts: the top head, the cylinder of vessel and the bottom head.

Placed between the base and the raft foundation, the bottom head is used for supporting the steel containment and transfer the load and acting force of the containment and its supporting objects to the raft foundation.

The bottom head of the steel containment of Linglong One at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant completed assembly and is ready for hoisting on Oct 24. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

SMRs have higher security, a shorter construction period and more flexible deployment compared to traditional nuclear power technology. They can be used as a distributed clean energy facility and can support sea water desalination, regional heating and cooling and industrial heating while generating electricity.

Developed by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the multi-purpose SMR demonstration project at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant started construction in July 2021. Once operational, it is anticipated to be able to generate 1 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, meeting domestic use by 526,000 households.

The project is expected to promote energy conservation and emission reduction and will also boost the development of nuclear power security and encourage China's independent innovation.

As the southern-most nuclear base in China, Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant has contributed to Hainan's power supply and energy security. CNNC's nuclear power projects will continue to provide green energy for construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the national ecological civilization demonstration zone in the region.

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)