Nuclear fuel loading has commenced at the 4th power unit of Tianwan NPP (China)

On August 25, 2018 the first fuel assembly was loaded into the core of Tianwan NPP Unit 4 in China.

“Today a significant milestone in the construction of Unit 4 of Tianwan NPP was achieved. Fuel loading is the commencement of the unit’s first criticality procedures. Unit 4 will then enter the start-up stage to be connected to the power grid of China, said Alexey Bannik, director for JSC ASE EC projects in China. We are planning to complete all the main stages by the end of the year, in accordance with the schedule”.

In total, 163 fuel assemblies (FA) are to be loaded into the reactor. Once the fuel loading and the starting up and adjustment works are complete, the unit will be brought to minimum controllable power level (MCL), followed by the power start-up.

“The first stage of Tianwan NPP, Units 1 and 2, have been demonstrating its efficiency for over 10 years. In 2017 the power units generated over 170 million MW/h into the power grid of the country, with the capacity factor of each unit exceeding 90% – a record for reactors like these,” said Valery Kedrov, deputy director of St. Petersburg designing institute for Tianwan NPP.

For reference:

Tianwan NPP is the largest facility built within the framework the Russian-Chinese economic cooperation. The commissioning of the first stage of Tianwan NPP (Units 1, 2) was held in 2007. The start-up of Tianwan NPP Unit 3 took place in December 2017. Currently, three VVER-1000 power units constructed under the Russian design, are operational at Tianwan NPP. The second stage of Tianwan NPP (power Units 3 and 4) is being implemented with the assistance of JSC ASE (Engineering Division of ROSATOM).

ASE was established by uniting the leading companies of the industry: JSC ASE EC, Atomstroyexport JSC, Atomenergoproekt JSC and ATOMPROEKT JSC. ASE is one of the global leaders in nuclear power engineering holding 31% of the global NPP construction market. Its representative offices, branches and front offices are operating in of 15 countries. Almost 80% of the order portfolio is composed of overseas projects. It implements high power NPP design and construction projects, RAW and SNF management facilities, thermal power facilities, and renders full range of services related to EPC, EPC(M) and PMC services for any complex engineering facilities. ASE develops and actively implements the innovative Multi-D project management system in the area of complex engineering facilities construction that allows such parameters as budget, deadlines and quality to be more efficiently managed.