China begins construction of Hualong One nuclear reactor with 666-foot-tall cooling tower

Construction for China’s first Hualong One reactor with cooling towers has now begin in the eastern province of Shandong. The construction marks the start of the first phase of the nuclear power plant, which will eventually meet the electricity needs of five million people. Even as the U.S. has backed away from its net-zero targets, China is stepping up its efforts to build a cleaner future by shifting from its coal-fuelled economy to a nuclear power. While the U.S. remains the largest producer of nuclear power in the world, China has invested heavily to take this pole position and has approved 46 new nuclear power plants during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). According to media reports, China is aiming to generate 135 million kilowatts through its 120 nuclear power units that are in various stages of either approval, construction, or operation at this point. One such unit is the Zhaoyuan nuclear power station in Shandong province, whose construction officially began over the weekend. It is also unique as it will feature the first Hualong One reactors with cooling towers. Hualong One is a third-generation nuclear reactor built indigenously in China. Jointly developed by the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), it has a 177-core assembly design with a net 1090 MWe power output and a 60-year design life. It uses a combination of active and passive safety systems and a main-cooling cycle in which large amounts of water are pumped from a nearby water body to cool the steam used to spin electricity-generating turbines. The cooled steam is then cycled back into the reactor and looped through heating and cooling cycles to generate electricity. The water from the cooling cycle is sent back to the water body. However, at the Zhaoyuan nuclear power station, cooling towers are being used to cool down the steam back into water, a first for the Hualong One reactor. How big are the cooling towers? The Zhaoyuan nuclear power plant is the 10th site in China where the Hualong One reactor is being used. The facility will have six units, each paired with a 666-foot (203 m) cooling tower. The 180,000 square feet (16,800 sq. m) area of each cooling tower will naturally cool the steam, shifting the heat sink from a nearby water body to the atmosphere. As part of the first phase of the nuclear power plant, two Hualong One reactors are being built. Over the weekend, the raft foundation for Unit 2 began with concrete pouring in a cylinder with a radius of 88 feet (27 m) and a height of 12 feet (3.7 m). Local media reported that as much as 8,800 cubic feet (~250 cubic meters) of concrete was planned for pouring over 60 hours. Once all units are complete, the Zhaoyuan will generate 50 billion kWh of energy to meet the annual energy demand of over five million people. This nuclear facility alone will help China cut coal consumption by 15 million tons a year, and carbon emissions by 46.2 million tons, a report said. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Ameya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.