On March 23, the 1,000-ton steel containment structure was lowered into position over Unit 3 of the Haiyang nuclear plant in Shandong Province, China. This containment dome, with a diameter of 41 meters and a height of 11 meters, is a vital component of the plant’s safety facilities, designed to prevent the release of radioactive materials .
Installation of the containment dome
The installation process was successfully completed in just two hours and 12 minutes, using a 3,200-ton crawler crane.
This safety barrier is part of the third layer of protection at the nuclear plant , which is being built using the CAP1000 model, the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor. The installation of the dome marks the completion of the nuclear island’s main structure and paves the way for the subsequent installation of the passive cooling water storage tank.
This tank will play a crucial role in reactor safety, providing cooling in emergency situations without the need for human intervention.
The installation paves the way for the placement of the passive cooling water storage tank, Source: CGTN
About the Haiyang plant
Once completed, the Haiyang plant, which will have four reactors , will be capable of generating up to 40 billion kWh of electricity per year. This energy will be enough to supply half of Shandong Province’s population, a significant contribution toward China’s goal of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Haiyang Unit 1 began operations in 2018, followed by Unit 2 in 2019, and now Units 3 and 4 are planned to be operational in 2027.
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Source and photos: World Nuclear News