Jan 11, 2024 20:00:00

What is the mechanism of the world's first 4th generation nuclear power plant 'Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Plant'?

The Shidawan Nuclear Power Plant in Shandong Province, China, which began commercial operation on December 6, 2023, became the world's first fourth-generation nuclear reactor to begin commercial operation. The overseas media CGTN explains the structure of the Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Plant.

How the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant works - CGTN
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-06/How-the-world-s-first-fourth-generation-nuclear-power-plant-works-1q8JzrGNrj2/p.html

Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Plant, whose construction began in 2012 and began operation in 2021, will begin commercial operation on December 6, 2023, making it the world's first commercially operated 4th generation nuclear power plant.

In conventional nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel called '

fuel rods ' are injected into the reactor in order to cause a nuclear fission reaction and generate energy. On the other hand, the Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Plant uses spheres with a diameter of approximately 6 cm for nuclear fuel. The sphere contains approximately 12,000 pieces of coated nuclear fuel material, each 1mm in diameter, surrounded by four layers of ceramic .

According to Tong Liyun, chief operator of the Shidawan Nuclear Power Plant, each sphere stores energy equivalent to 1.5 tons of coal. However, Tong said, ``The ceramic surrounding the nuclear fuel material can withstand very high temperatures, and under any working conditions, the temperature of this fuel ball itself will never exceed the temperature that the ceramic can withstand.'' states. In other words, the ceramic processing makes it difficult for radioactive substances to leak out.

In addition, by using approximately 430,000 spherical fuels per reactor at the Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Station, the procedure of temporarily shutting down the reactor for refueling is omitted, and constant operation is possible. I am.

Furthermore, the Ishijima Bay Nuclear Power Plant, a fourth-generation nuclear power plant, has introduced a mechanism called a ' high-temperature gas reactor .' Traditional nuclear reactors have used water for cooling. On the other hand, high-temperature gas reactors use helium, an inert gas, for cooling instead of water. By using gas for cooling, it is possible to improve many of the shortcomings of conventional light water reactors , such as making steam explosions less likely. Additionally, to further improve safety, the Ishijimawan Nuclear Power Station has also introduced a system called a 'passive residual heat removal system.'

Tong said, 'At present, the condition of the reactor unit is very stable, including its operation under various parameters. The electricity generated by the Shidawan Nuclear Power Plant is supplied to the power grid in Shandong Province and is used in each household. Power will be distributed for use.” CGTN says of the Ishijimawan Nuclear Power Plant, ``It is expected that it will contribute to the local electricity supply and serve as a model for the further development of fourth-generation nuclear power plants.''