Unit 1 of China’s Sanmen nuclear power plant in the Zhejiang province reached full power operation for the first time yesterday. It is the first AP1000 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) plant in the world to achieve grid connection and power generation. Hot testing of the facility – when conditions similar to those experienced during operation are simulated – was completed in June last year. Fuel assemblies were loaded into its core from 25 April this year, and first criticality was achieved on 21 June. Nuclear-generated steam was used for the first time on 27 June to rotate the turbine at rated speed.
Power Technology 15th Aug 2018 read more »