Dome Installation Completed for Unit 1 of Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant
The installation of the outer dome for the double-layer containment building of unit 1 at the Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant in China's Liaoning Province has been completed.
The China National Nuclear Corporation announced that the outer dome of the double-layer containment building at unit 1 of the Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant in Liaoning Province has been successfully installed.
Characteristics of the Steel Dome Module
The conical steel dome module consists of 32 main radial beams, three ring beams, 96 steel plating panels, and three interconnected steel platforms at the bottom.
With a diameter of approximately 41 meters, a height of 11 meters, and a lifting weight of about 1,000 tons, this structure ranks among the most crucial components of the containment building.
Major Milestone in the Construction Process
The installation of the outer dome is considered a critical stage indicating that the construction of the unit's large steel structure modules is nearing completion.
This development provides a solid foundation for achieving the goal of completing the nuclear island facility structure.
Modular Construction and Reactor Technology
The CAP1000 reactor design, which is the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000, utilizes modular construction techniques that allow large structural modules to be manufactured in factories and assembled on-site.
At Xudabao unit 1, the inner dome had previously been put into place on February 10.
Project Details of the Plant
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced in November 2023 that the National Nuclear Safety Administration had decided to grant construction licenses for units 1 and 2, each featuring a 1,250 MWe CAP1000 reactor.
Construction of two Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors as Xudabao units 3 and 4 began in July 2021 and May 2022, respectively, with the plant being owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd.