Chinese Reactor Pre-Startup Peer Review Conducted Remotely
The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) has completed a pre-startup peer review (PSUR) of unit 6 at the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China’s Jiangsu province. Travel restrictions amid the pandemic meant the review of the domestically-designed ACPR1000 was carried out using local experts on-site with WANO experts participating remotely.
Such reviews examine numerous functional and cross-functional areas that are essential for the safe startup and operation of reactors. These range from operator performance and operations and maintenance, through to work management and emergency preparedness.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced yesterday the PSUR at Tianwan 6 was conducted on 9-20 January.
The Tianwan plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
The team of local experts who conducted the on-site assessment at Tianwan-6. Image: CNNC
An on-site assessment team was formed by experts from outside the association and power plant experts, including specialists from CNNC, China General Nuclear and the State Power Investment Corporation. WANO international experts provided online remote guidance to jointly carry out the evaluation of Tianwan 6.
Units 5 and 6 at Tianwan – Tianwan Phase III – both feature ACPR1000 reactors. First safety-related concrete was poured for unit 5 on 27 December 2015, with that for unit 6 poured on 7 September 2016. Tianwan 5 entered commercial operation in September last year. Hot functional testing of unit 6 was completed on 29 December and the reactor is expected be started up later this year.
