China makes progress on world's first small nuclear reactor project

This technology can meet many needs and is used for desalination, potentially providing electricity and fresh water to small islands.

The core module of the world's first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) completed factory acceptance testing on July 13, marking a breakthrough in SMR technology innovation in China, the Global Times reported.

The reactor, called Linglong One, is a multi-purpose small modular pressurized water reactor developed by China National Nuclear Corporation. The core module is the main equipment of Linglong One, which was independently designed, developed and purchased by the China Institute of Nuclear Power.

The SMR reactor consists of a pressure vessel, a steam generator and other components. Researchers have made breakthroughs in many key technologies, allowing the core module to realize technical applications and smoothly pass the final approval, said Wu Qiong, an official with Dalian Nuclear Power Petrochemical Group, a subsidiary of China First Heavy Industry Group.

In 2016, Linglong One became the world's first small reactor to pass the safety assessment of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Linglong One will generate 1 billion kWh of electricity annually upon completion of construction. It will meet the needs of about 526,000 households. The technology is also designed to help with urban heating, urban cooling, industrial steam generation and seawater desalination.

The expansion of small reactors could help China significantly reduce its fossil fuel consumption, promote energy conservation and reduce emissions. According to Bloomberg, no country in the world has invested more heavily in nuclear power than China. The Chinese government plans to spend $440 billion on building new plants over the next 15 years with the goal of surpassing the United States to become the leading nuclear power producer.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper