What is a Metal Prototype?

The prototype reactor is the first reactor in a series with the same basic design, and is sometimes used to refer to a smaller-scale reactor with the same main features as the final series.

The prototype reactor is the first reactor in a series with the same basic design, and is sometimes used to refer to a smaller-scale reactor with the same main features as the final series.

Prototype reactor overview

The development of new nuclear reactor types generally goes through three stages: experimental reactors, prototype reactors, and commercial reactors.

During the development of new reactor types, some experiments cannot be carried out without the reactor, or although they can be carried out, it is difficult to obtain satisfactory results. Establish a prototype reactor, perform some important experiments on the reactor, obtain accurate results, and provide support for technical research and development. It can be used as a means to develop nuclear power technology and carry out some important experiments (this sentence is repeated with the previous sentence).

For a new type of nuclear reactor, because some of the important systems and key equipment used in the new reactor are not mature enough in technology, the early stage is not enough for investors to build confidence in the safety and economy of the power station. Build a prototype reactor, verify and demonstrate it through construction and operation, and make the necessary improvements to complete all the technologies used in the design, thereby building investor confidence.

The first nuclear power plants built in the Soviet Union and the United States from the 50's to the early 1960's, such as the Shippingport nuclear power plant in the United States, the Chouz nuclear power plant in France, and the Obrigheim nuclear plant in Germany The main purpose is to verify the feasibility of each nuclear power technology in project implementation through test demonstration, all belong to the prototype reactor nuclear power plant.

Prototype heap main types

PWR :

At the end of 1957, the United States first combined a nuclear submarine pressurized water reactor with conventional steam power generation technology to build the world's first Shippin prototype pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant. On December 2, 1957, the Shiping Port nuclear power plant began operation with 230 MW thermal power and 60 MW electrical power. Shipport's pressurized-water reactor (PWR) is a prototype of a pressurized water reactor.

Shiping Port Nuclear Power Plant

In 1991, China built the first pressurized water reactor prototype nuclear power plant, the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant. Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant used the internationally mature pressurized water reactor technology at the time to build a single 300MW generating unit. Construction of the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant broke ground on June 1, 1983, and grid-connected power generation was first implemented on December 15, 1991. The unit was put into commercial operation after two years of test operation.

Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant

Boiling water reactor:

In 1960, the Dresden boiling water reactor (BWR) nuclear power plant was put into operation in the United States. It is a prototype boiling water reactor. It is mainly composed of the body of boiling water reactor, steam feed water system and other auxiliary systems.

Heavy water reactor :

In 1962, Canada built a 20MW natural uranium heavy water reactor prototype reactor NPD in Rolphton, Ontario.

Gas-cooled reactor:

In 1956, the Calder Hall A graphite gas-cooled reactor prototype nuclear power plant was built in the United Kingdom. It was the first nuclear reactor in the world to be put into commercial operation. There are 4 magnesium Knox reactors, each with an electrical power of 60MW. The annual reduction has been reduced to 50MW. Carder Hall graphite gas-cooled reactors were mainly used to produce weapons-grade plutonium in the early days, followed by power generation, and were mainly used for commercial fuel cycles after 1964. Production of weapons-grade plutonium ceased in April 1995. The power station closed in 2003.

In 1963, a Wencesker Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (WAGR) prototype reactor was also built in the UK with an electric power of 32MW.

In 1956, France built a natural uranium graphite gas-cooled reactor (UNGG) prototype reactor with a thermal power of 40MW and a small energy recovery device. The ungung reactor was shut down in 1968.

In 1971, Germany began to build a high-temperature plutonium reactor prototype nuclear power plant THTR-300 with an electric power of 300MW and a spherical fuel element. It reached its criticality for the first time in September 1983. It encountered many difficulties during startup and operation. It was connected to the grid for power generation in November 1985. Shutdown in September.

A prototype nuclear power reactor at Fort. St. Vrain was completed in the United States in 1979. It was 1989 due to low economic factors (is it shut down or closed?).

Fast reactor:

Before 1964, the Soviet Union began to build the BN-350 prototype fast reactor, which was connected to the grid for power generation in 1973 and closed in 1992. BN-350 is a sodium-cooled fast reactor with an electrical power of 150MWe. BN-350 is not only used to generate electricity, but also to produce tritium and purify seawater for urban water use.

The PFR prototype fast reactor was built in Britain in 1974, with an electric power of 250 MWe, and in 1994 (is the reactor shut down or closed?).

In 1976, the Phenix prototype fast reactor was completed in France. Phenix is a pool-type liquid metal fast breeder reactor with a total electric power of 264MWe and a net electric power of 233MWe.

Before 1980, the Soviet Union built a BN-600 prototype fast reactor on the basis of BN-350, with a total electric power of 600MW. Still running today.

In 1983, Japan approved and started construction of the fast-breeding prototype reactor "Wenshu", which reached its criticality for the first time in April 1994. In December 1995, due to the design error of the thermometer case of the secondary cooling system and other reasons, the case broke, causing about 700kg of sodium to leak. However, due to improper actions such as hiding the video tapes of the accident scene by the Power Reactor Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC) at the time, the local residents and citizens felt insecure and distrustful, and stopped the reactor, which was restarted in May 2010. start up.

Small heap

South Korea is building a SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor) prototype reactor, which will be completed in 2012 with a design life of 60 years and a refueling cycle of 3 years. SMART is designed to build a reactor with 330MW core thermal power and desalination application system that can be used for desalination and power generation. This reactor type has an integrated steam generator and advanced safety features, which can be used for power generation (up to 100MWe) and heating.

On February 10, 2014, the CAREM-25 prototype reactor, a small modular reactor independently developed and designed by Argentina, began to pour the first tank of concrete.