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Chinese Operators Set a World Record for Continuous Operation of a CANDU 6 Nuclear Plant.
Chinese Candu reactor sets operating recordsExcerpts:
Unit 1 of the Qinshan Phase III nuclear power plant near Shanghai in China's Zhejiang province was taken offline on 1 May after 738 days of continuous operation. It has set a new record for the longest uninterrupted operation of a power reactor in China as well as a world record for an operating run for a Candu-6 reactor.
During the latest operating cycle, which began on 24 April 2023, Qinshan III unit 1 has generated more than 12.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by 3.8 million tonnes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 9.97 million tonnes, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) noted.
A total of nine Candu-6 reactors are currently in operation around the world. These are units 1 and 2 of Romania's Cernavoda plant, Argentina's Embalse plant, Canada's Point Lepreau plant, units 1 and 2 of China's Qinshan III plant and units 2-4 of South Korea's Wolsong plant.
Candus are pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), which are designed to be refuelled without being shut down. The world record for continuous operation of a nuclear reactor is currently held by Darlington unit 1 in Canada - also a PHWR - which was taken offline on 5 February 2021 after 1106 days of operation...
... The two reactors are now approaching the end of their initial 30-year design life. Operator Third Qinshan Nuclear Power Company is undertaking a programme to refurbish the reactors and associated fuel channels. The refurbishment will allow the Candu units to continue generating power for a further 30 years...
During the latest operating cycle, which began on 24 April 2023, Qinshan III unit 1 has generated more than 12.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by 3.8 million tonnes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 9.97 million tonnes, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) noted.
A total of nine Candu-6 reactors are currently in operation around the world. These are units 1 and 2 of Romania's Cernavoda plant, Argentina's Embalse plant, Canada's Point Lepreau plant, units 1 and 2 of China's Qinshan III plant and units 2-4 of South Korea's Wolsong plant.
Candus are pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), which are designed to be refuelled without being shut down. The world record for continuous operation of a nuclear reactor is currently held by Darlington unit 1 in Canada - also a PHWR - which was taken offline on 5 February 2021 after 1106 days of operation...
... The two reactors are now approaching the end of their initial 30-year design life. Operator Third Qinshan Nuclear Power Company is undertaking a programme to refurbish the reactors and associated fuel channels. The refurbishment will allow the Candu units to continue generating power for a further 30 years...
Canada is on time and under budget refurbishing its own CANDUs at the Bruce plant.
As the world supplier of lanthanide metals, one might think that China has significant reserves of thorium. I'm not sure this is true. I have long advocated for the inclusion of thorium in CANDU fuels to increase burn up. (I believe their ores are bastnaesite, not the thorium containing monazite common in India and, I believe, Australia.
Be this as it may, CANDU reactors are the most commonly available commercial reactors for breeding if thorium is included in the fuel.