History, features of Tianwan NPP

The problem of energy consumption in the modern world is very acute. The non-renewability of resources, which are traditionally used to provide electricity to the population, forces many governments to think about alternative energy sources. However, the insufficient level of technology development, different climatic and geographic conditions make it possible to apply the energy of sunlight, water and wind far from all regions. That is why, even after several serious accidents and increased public distrust of the "peaceful atom," nuclear power still remains one of the most promising areas of development.

Atomic Energy of the People's Republic of China

China's nuclear power in a peaceful environment is currently represented by thirty-six reactors located at fourteen nuclear power plants. The construction of another thirty-one energy blocks is planned, and twelve of them are already at the project implementation stage.

Most nuclear power plants (including the Tianwan NPP, which is one of the most reliable and safe ones) are located on the coast. This localization allows the use of sea water for direct cooling. All suitable sites near the sources of seawater have already been planned for the further construction of new power units.

In general, the active development of China's nuclear power industry is aimed at improving the environmental situation in the state. A booming economy was previously provided by coal-fired power plants, which emit much more harmful substances into the atmosphere than a normally functioning nuclear power plant. As a result, air in cities is polluted, and in general the situation in terms of ecology leaves much to be desired.

Cooperation between China and the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear energy

Most of the reactors in the territory of the People's Republic of China are built not without the participation of the Russian Federation. An exception was not the construction of the Tianwan NPP (the power plant, by the way, is the largest object of Russian-Chinese cooperation). Assistance is provided at the stages of drafting energy facilities, the actual construction of power units, supplies of construction materials, equipment, construction of personnel and training of Chinese workers. Rosatom's order book is filled with projects of Chinese partners, China, in its turn, also strengthens its presence in the Russian market: the Eastern partners are the holders of Yamal LNG and Sibur shares.

Location of the nuclear power plant

Tianwan NPP (China) is located near the eponymous city on the shore of the Yellow Sea. The locals call the locality, located thirty kilometers from the city of Lianyungang, a small fishing village, in fact the population of the urban district is slightly less than five million people. At the same time, Lianyungang Square is only seven and a half square kilometers.

The photo above shows the location of the Tianwan NPP on the map of China.

Chronology of project implementation

The construction of a nuclear power plant near the "fishing village" of Lianyungang began (in the beginning of cooperation) in 1992. Then, between the engineering company Atomstroyexport, which is a contractor, the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, a cooperation agreement was signed. The agreement involved the development of the Tianwan NPP project, the supply of necessary equipment and materials, installation works, the commissioning of the nuclear power plant and the training of personnel subsequently employed at the energy facility.

In fact, the first power unit of the Tianwan power plant was launched in 2005. A year later, a new facility, the Tianwan NPP, was incorporated into the National Electric Network of China. The history of the project was only just begun. The first two units of the nuclear power plant were put into operation in 2007. The object was on warranty service for the next two years.

In 2010, the Chinese energy corporation entered into a regular agreement with the Russian Atomstroyexport. This time the contract stipulated the conditions for the construction of the third and fourth power units. The development of projects was completed in 2012 for the third and in 2013 for the fourth power blocks, it was marked by the solemn start of the foundation concreting. It is expected that the third and fourth power units of Tianwan NPP will be put into operation in 2018.

Organizations that participated in the construction of a power plant

The construction of the nuclear power plant was not only the engineering company Atomstroyexport. The following companies and organizations took part in the implementation of the first-stage power units project at Tianwan NPP:

• Scientific management was carried out by the Kurchatov Institute;
• The reactor installation was developed in the experimental design bureau "Hydropress";
• The introduction of the plant into operation was controlled by the general contractor - the company "Atomtekhenergo";
• The general designer was the St. Petersburg Atomenergoproekt;
• The main equipment was manufactured at Izhorskiye Zavodakh;
• Steam generators were supplied by the machine-building plant ZiO-Podolsk;
• The automated control system for the nuclear power plant was purchased from the German concern Siemens.

In total, about 150 companies and organizations are involved in the development and implementation of the project, in addition, a number of equipment was manufactured by Chinese enterprises.

Putting the nuclear power plant into operation

The successful implementation of the project and the timely commissioning of the first-order power units became a landmark event for both the Chinese nuclear power industry and Russian contractors and developers. The protocol of preliminary delivery of works was signed by the head of Atomstroyexport from the Russian side and the director of JNPC (Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation) with the Chinese one. Status of the current Tianwan NPP (photo below) was received on August 16, 2007.

Important feature

At the construction of nuclear power plants, the most modern solutions were applied at that time. An important issue for organizations and companies involved in the development of the project was ensuring the reliability of the Tianwan NPP. To date, the power plant is one of the safest nuclear power plants in the world.

This result was achieved thanks to a unique solution, which is an important feature of the nuclear power plant project. The fact is that several so-called traps are laid during the construction of the station. Cone-shaped compartments are designed to hold the core. Thus, in case of a possible accident, the melted structural elements of the structure will fill the traps, which will prevent the destruction of the building as a whole.

Further plans for cooperation between China and the Russian Federation

The successful completion of the project guaranteed to Russian contractors the continuation of international cooperation. The commissioning of the joint facility in 2007 was satisfied with both sides. A new agreement providing for the conditions for the development of the project, construction and commissioning of the second and third power units was signed almost immediately after the warranty period of the Tianwan NPP service.

The joint construction of the remaining power units of the nuclear power plant in China is planned. In total, it is planned to put into operation eight power units of Tianwan NPP, but the timing of the project is still unknown. Also at the talks, the possible cooperation was discussed during the construction of another power plant. A new facility is planned to be built in the city of Harbin, in the north-east of China.

Nuclear power plants that are built for a similar project

A lot of states are interested in the design of safe nuclear power plants. At the moment, the construction of additional trap compartments is an innovative solution, but at the same time rather complicated in the development of the project and the construction of an energy facility.

According to the project NPP-2006 (improved NPP-91, which built the Tianwan NPP), which provides high safety and reliability indicators, at present five nuclear power plants are being built. Three of them are on the territory of the Russian Federation:

• Baltic NPP in the Kaliningrad Region;
• Leningrad NPP-2 in Sosnovy Bor, 68 km from St. Petersburg;
• Novovoronezh NPP-2 in the Voronezh Region.

The remaining two stations are built in Belarus (Grodno Oblast) and India under the safety standards of the NPP-2006. The last NPP does not fully comply with the project.

In the near future, it is planned to build five more nuclear power plants:

• In Russia - Seversk NPP in the Tomsk region, Kursk NPP-2, Nizhny Novgorod NPP;
• Abroad - nuclear power plants in Turkey and Bangladesh.

Nuclear power plants of the new generation will minimize the consequences of possible accidents. Particularly pleased that the development and implementation of the project the safest nuclear power plant in the world was engaged in the Russian Federation.