China Fast Reactor 600 (CFR-600)
GenerationGeneration IV
Reactor conceptFast breeder reactor
StatusUnder construction
LocationXiapu County, Fujian province, China
Coordinates26°48′13″N 120°09′18″E / 26.80361°N 120.15500°E / 26.80361; 120.15500
Main parameters of the reactor core
Fuel (fissile material)UO2 (initial stage)
MOX (later stage)
Neutron energy spectrumFast
Primary coolantLiquid sodium
Reactor usage
Power (thermal)1500 MWth
Power (electric)600 MWe gross

The CFR-600 (Xiapu fast reactor pilot project) is a sodium-cooled pool-type fast-neutron nuclear reactor under construction in Xiapu County, Fujian province, China, on Changbiao Island.[1][2] It is a generation IV demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Construction started in late 2017. These reactors are expected to be connected to the grid in 2023 and 2025.[3] The reactor will have an output of 1500 MW thermal power and 600 MW electric power.[1][2] The fuel will be supplied by TVEL, subsidiary of Rosatom, according to the agreement signed in 2019.[4]

The CFR-600 is part of the Chinese plan to reach a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Fast neutron reactors are the main future nuclear power technology in China.

A larger commercial-scale reactor, the CFR-1000, is also planned.[2]

On the same site, the building of a second 600 MW fast reactor CFR-600 was started in December 2020[5] and four 1000 MW CAP1000 are proposed.[6]

Such breeder reactors have the possibility to be used to produce weapons grade plutonium for nuclear weapon manufacturing purposes.[3]

Reactors

Unit Type Net capacity Gross capacity Thermal capacity Construction Start Operation Start Notes
Xiapu-1 FBR 642 MWe 682 MWe 1882 MWt 2017-12-29 2023[3] [7]
Xiapu-2 FBR 642 MWe 682 MWe 1882 MWt 2020-12-27 2025[3] [5][7]

Controversy

Al Jazeera reported in 2021 that the reactors are controversial because they produce weapons-grade plutonium, offering a dual military and civilian use. China has stopped annual voluntary declarations to the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] on its stocks of plutonium.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "CFR-600 (China Institute of Atomic Energy, China)" (PDF). IAEA. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "China begins building pilot fast reactor". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Patel, Prachi (28 Dec 2022). "China's New Breeder Reactors May Produce More Than Just Watts". IEEE Spectrum.
  4. ↑ "Russia's TVEL to Supply Fuel for Chinas CFR-600 Reactor".
  5. 1 2 "China starts building second CFR-600 fast reactor". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. ↑ CCCC-FHDI wins bid for quot;feasibility study of offshore engineering of 600MW fast reactor nuclear power demonstration project in Xiapu, 12.03.2015. (Archived Version on archive.is).
  7. 1 2 "PRIS - Reactor Details". pris.iaea.org. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  8. ↑ "Concerns grow over China nuclear reactors shrouded in mystery". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2021.
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