China has made great progress in the miniaturization of high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, creating strong conditions for the launch of the nuclear-powered strategic bomber "Five Star Light", according to Russia**.
1. The five-star light nuclear-powered strategic bomber.
The five-star light nuclear-powered strategic long-range bomber that China is actively developing is codenamed "five-star light," marking China's leading position in the field of nuclear power. The aircraft has a high level of strategic nuclear deterrence, providing a solid guarantee for maintaining long-term peace in the country.
It was revealed that the five-star light designed for cruising speeds up to 3Mach 6, with the ability to fly at high speed in the atmosphere for three and a half months, while staying in outer space for a year. The aircraft can carry from a hundred to two hundred nuclear bombs, the number of which will be adjusted according to the density and size of the target. Its two-stage warhead and multiple sub-guided high-speed cruise warheads give it unprecedented strike power.
Second, the selection of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
The Five Star Light nuclear-powered strategic long-range bomber uses small, high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors instead of traditional reactors. Why choose a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor?This relates to the working principle and characteristics of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
High-temperature gas-cooled reactors use ceramic-type coated pellet fuel elements, with high-temperature-resistant graphite as a moderator and chemically inert helium as a coolant. The outlet temperature of a gas-cooled reactor can reach 750 -950, hence the term "high temperature". The principle of its operation is that the heat released by the nuclear fission reaction is brought into the steam generator by the helium gas flowing through the core, and the steam is produced for power generation, forming a closed circulation loop.
Intrinsic safety: High-temperature gas-cooled reactors have inherent safety, that is, they can automatically ensure that the nuclear fission reaction does not get out of control without relying on external equipment, take away the waste heat in time, prevent the core from melting, and ensure that radioactive materials do not leak.
Modular design: The modular reactor design is adopted, which splits the reactor into multiple small modules, each of which can operate independently, improving operational efficiency and flexibility.
Self-developed fuel elements: The reactor adopts high-temperature resistant all-ceramic coated granular spherical nuclear fuel elements, which completely encapsulate radioactive waste in the particles and solves the problem of radioactive pollution.
Refueling: New fuel balls can be filled from the top of the reactor, so that there is no need to stop the reactor during operation, and the operation efficiency of the nuclear power plant is improved.
10 MW HTR: In 2003, China successfully connected to the grid in Beijing for power generation, becoming the world's first 10 MW HT gas-cooled experimental reactor.
200 MW HTGR Nuclear Power Plant: In 2021, the world's first 200 MW HTGR nuclear power plant was connected to the grid in Shidao Bay, Shandong Province, marking China's leading position in the HTGR nuclear power sector.
600 MW Commercial HTGR Nuclear Power Plant: In the next five years, China plans to build a 600 MW commercial HTGR nuclear power plant, showing great potential for development in HTGR technology.
3. Future prospects.
On the basis of the H-20** strategic bomber and equipped with China's latest small high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor, the five-star light nuclear-powered strategic long-range bomber is expected to become a new pinnacle of China's strength. This choice reflects China's maturity and leading position in the field of nuclear energy technology, and provides a more solid guarantee for the country's long-term peace.