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Yesterday, my tweet about China's plan to convert hundreds of coal burning power plants to nuclear plants vy replacing furnaces with high temperature reactors got some attention.
Though I've been following project for years, here is sourcing info for yesterday's announcement
Though I've been following project for years, here is sourcing info for yesterday's announcement
Many commenters don't fully get mass production nature of the plan. Heat sources for a wide range of plant sizes will all use identical 250 MWth HTR modules. Fuel inside modules is in form of identical 6 cm diameter "pebbles". Little or no structure inside pressure vessel
I like to refer to the design as just a "bucket full of balls" to emphasize factory production potential. Imagine an automated assembly line rolling out fully formed and inspected pebbles on a 24 x 7 basis with batches going into containers sized to maintain sub criticality.
Each heating module also needs a helium to water/steam heat exchanger and a helium circulator, both of which have been designed for mass production.
As world is constantly reminded, China has ever deepening experience in cost-conscious mass production of high quality products
As world is constantly reminded, China has ever deepening experience in cost-conscious mass production of high quality products
China has skilled, experienced project managers who have opportunities to keep refining their craft.
There isn't much discussion about game changing nature of a relatively smooth path for China to move from coal to nuclear.
FAR more important for climate than coal to gas
There isn't much discussion about game changing nature of a relatively smooth path for China to move from coal to nuclear.
FAR more important for climate than coal to gas
