Recently, China's remarkable progress in the field of nuclear technology has attracted widespread attention at home and abroad. Since the 50s of the 20th century, China has always attached great importance to and actively promoted the research and development and application of nuclear energy, and has made a series of remarkable achievements. We are particularly proud that on December 6, 2021, China successfully achieved the commercial operation of the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant, namely the Shidaowan High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Experimental Power Station in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province.
Behind this achievement is the result of the continuous pursuit and efforts of our scientists and staff over the years. They have carried out countless experiments, adjustments and improvements in the large and complex system of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and finally achieved the core indicator of long-term stable operation. In addition, this project has also successfully challenged the difficult task of 168 hours of continuous operation, which once again proves that China's technical strength in this field has reached the international advanced level.
The successful commercial operation of this project is not only of great significance to China itself, but also will have a far-reaching impact on the global nuclear energy industry. In addition, China's National Energy Administration also emphasized in a recent statement that we will continue to maintain an open and inclusive attitude, and are willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries to jointly promote the sustainable development of the global nuclear energy industry. This has undoubtedly set a responsible example for the major nuclear energy countries.
In recent days, China has made a number of important progress in the field of nuclear energy. First of all, on December 6, China's National Energy Administration announced that the world's first nuclear power plant independently developed and built by China, Shandong Rongcheng Shidaowan high-temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power plant, successfully completed 168 hours of continuous safe and stable operation, and officially entered the commercial operation stage on the same day. It is worth noting that this project is the first of its kind in the world. This means that China has been at the forefront of the world in the field of nuclear energy utilization and nuclear technology application.
When it comes to high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, I believe you are no strangers to them. Earlier, there have been many studies on whether such reactors have the possibility of becoming ship power, and there have even been people who spread fictional claims such as the use of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors in China's new nuclear submarines.
However, a clear form of the new nuclear reactor used by China's large surface ships has now begun to appear. On December 5, Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, unveiled the design scheme of the world's first and the world's largest 24,000 TEU nuclear-powered container ship at the 2023 China International Maritime Technology Conference and Exhibition.
This large vessel capable of carrying up to 24,000 TEUs can not only reach speeds of up to 24 knots per hour, but is also powered by a world-leading thorium-based molten salt reactor** and equipped with supercritical carbon dioxide generator sets.
Here, let me give you an in-depth look at molten salt reactors. As we all know, the nuclear power units we have seen in the past mainly rely on the thermal energy generated by the reactor core to heat the water in the primary circuit, and the maximum temperature of the primary circuit water can usually only reach about 300 degrees Celsius in a high-pressure environment.
This hot water then flows out through the pipes, like a conventional water heater, heating the secondary water outside the pipes to a higher temperature, which in turn acts as a steam generator to drive the steam turbine and drive the generator.
In a molten salt reactor, the core is not supplied with a conventional water source, but by molten fluoride salt. The substance can be heated to about 700 degrees Celsius at relatively low external pressure. If the temperature continues to rise, it can cause damage to the running piping material that holds the molten salt. As the name suggests, the main advantage of molten salt reactors is that they are extremely safe to operate, not subject to high pressures, which reduces the risk of ** occurring.
In the unfortunate event of molten salt leakage, the melted salt will cool and solidify quickly, which is not as uncontrollable as the uncontrollable impact of large amounts of high-speed flowing water. The ocean-going vessel is expected to use the large amount of waste heat generated by the reactor to drive a supercritical CO2 generator set that is about one-fifteenth smaller than a conventional steam unit and operates nearly 5 percent more efficiently than a steam unit.
As early as 2021, Chinese researchers successfully developed and tested the supercritical CO2 power generation experimental unit with the highest parameters and the largest capacity in the world, which is not only at the top level in China but also in the world. The electricity generated by the generator sets will drive the giant ship with a full load displacement capacity of nearly 240,000 tons in an all-electric mode to a speed of about 24 knots per hour.
Let's make a simple comparison with the latest British construction of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. It also uses an all-electric propulsion system, with a standard displacement of more than 60,000 tons, but can reach speeds of 25 to 27 knots per hour. I believe that readers have already understood the reason for choosing this aircraft carrier as the object of comparison. Of course, if you take into account the most important types of submarines and other types with extremely tight space needs, will this new type of device be more promising?
At present, although there is no information about the completion of the ship, CSSC has released a detailed overall design plan. It is worth noting that the report has received a highly accepted certificate of approval in principle from the well-known Norwegian DNV Ship Registration Association, which fully demonstrates the maturity of the technology and its feasibility. It is foreseeable that in the near future, we will see this innovative design go from drawing to reality.
Molten salt reactors have the advantages of safety and reliability, compact structure, efficient operation and sufficient power, which are extremely attractive to the navy.
Perhaps, such reactors will be the foundation work of China's future nuclear-powered naval career.
In addition, the compact size of these reactors makes them suitable for small ships and even aircraft that do not require too high power output. In this way, should we start to expect all kinds of nuclear-powered combat platforms equipped with directed energy** to gradually join the vast and prosperous maritime military forces?