Apr 16, 2025
The assembly of the Lufeng 1 containment vessel has begun.
The bottom head of the containment vessel for unit 1 of the Lufeng nuclear power plant has been installed on the central raft foundation of the nuclear island, according to China Nuclear Construction Corporation 22.
This bottom head, nearly 40 meters in diameter, 11.5 meters high, and weighing over 800 tonnes, was positioned on April 9 using a 3,200-tonne crawler crane and consists of 64 welded arc-shaped steel plates.
CNI22 stated that the installation marks the full launch of the main structural construction of the reactor building. Advanced 3D video simulation technology was employed to rehearse the hoisting process, identify potential issues, and mitigate risks. During installation, 3D laser scanning was used for precise placement on the containment vessel support structure.
The steel containment vessel comprises five modules: the bottom head, three cylindrical rings, and the top head.
The first safety-related concrete for the nuclear island of unit 1 was poured at Lufeng in Guangdong province on February 24. This is the third unit under construction at a site that will eventually have six reactors.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission approved the construction of four 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors (units 1-4) at Lufeng in September 2014, but the construction of units 1 and 2 received State Council approval only on August 19 last year, while units 3 and 4 await approval. The CAP1000 is China's version of the Westinghouse AP1000.
In April 2022, the State Council greenlit the construction of two Hualong One units as units 5 and 6 at Lufeng. The first concrete for unit 5 was poured on September 8, 2022, and for unit 6 on August 26, 2023.
This bottom head, nearly 40 meters in diameter, 11.5 meters high, and weighing over 800 tonnes, was positioned on April 9 using a 3,200-tonne crawler crane and consists of 64 welded arc-shaped steel plates.
CNI22 stated that the installation marks the full launch of the main structural construction of the reactor building. Advanced 3D video simulation technology was employed to rehearse the hoisting process, identify potential issues, and mitigate risks. During installation, 3D laser scanning was used for precise placement on the containment vessel support structure.
The steel containment vessel comprises five modules: the bottom head, three cylindrical rings, and the top head.
The first safety-related concrete for the nuclear island of unit 1 was poured at Lufeng in Guangdong province on February 24. This is the third unit under construction at a site that will eventually have six reactors.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission approved the construction of four 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors (units 1-4) at Lufeng in September 2014, but the construction of units 1 and 2 received State Council approval only on August 19 last year, while units 3 and 4 await approval. The CAP1000 is China's version of the Westinghouse AP1000.
In April 2022, the State Council greenlit the construction of two Hualong One units as units 5 and 6 at Lufeng. The first concrete for unit 5 was poured on September 8, 2022, and for unit 6 on August 26, 2023.