"Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 3 Successfully Passes Hydrostatic Tests in Russia
The hydrostatic testing phase for the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of Unit 3 at China's Xudabao nuclear power plant, located in Liaoning province, has been accomplished with success. This milestone brings the plant's second phase, consisting of Units 3 and 4, one step closer to commissioning, which is expected to take place between 2027 and 2028.
Hydrostatic testing is a comprehensive examination that assesses the quality of design, manufacturing, and assembly of the vessel. By subjecting the equipment to specific temperature and pressure parameters and combining the results with non-destructive testing, this process verifies the integrity of pressure-bearing welds, as well as the overall safety and sealing capabilities of the vessel.
The completion of the hydrostatic tests on May 4 was announced by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), with their representatives supervising the procedure in Russia. According to CNNC, it took a total of 40 months from the initial forging in 2020 to complete key manufacturing stages, including forging manufacturing, cylinder inner wall surfacing, shell assembly welding, and internal parts assembly and welding. Despite challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, close cooperation between overseas manufacturing supervisors and equipment manufacturers ensured the successful achievement of this crucial manufacturing milestone.
CNNC emphasized that the completion of the vessel's hydrostatic tests signifies the beginning of the countdown towards delivering the main equipment for Unit 3's nuclear island.
The Xudabao project stemmed from a series of agreements signed between China and Russia. In June 2018, the two nations signed four agreements, which included the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors at the Xudabao (also known as Xudapu) site. Subsequent agreements in June 2019 involved a general contract for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Xudabao, along with a nuclear fuel supply contract. Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, is responsible for designing the nuclear island, supplying key equipment, and providing field supervision, installation supervision, and commissioning services. China will contribute turbine generators and balance of plant equipment.
Construction on Unit 3 of Xudabao began in July 2021, followed by Unit 4 in May 2022, propelling the project towards its anticipated completion."
