First Nuclear Power Plant Resistant to Meltdowns Passed Tests

Older nuclear reactors, such as pressurized water reactors, have designs that require several steps for emergency shutdown. This can lead to disasters such as Chernobyl or Fukushima. Especially Fukushimalost its backup generators after the big earthquake, and the team could not respond to the systems in time due to debris.

Tsinghua University, China Huaneng Group The high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor of the Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant, built in cooperation with China National Nuclear Corporation and China National Nuclear Corporation, has a safer design. According to engineers, it is not possible for this reactor to melt down.

Able to passively regulate temperature

In pebble-bed reactorsInstead of fuel rods, sphere-shaped pebbles made of enriched uranium, carbon and silicon coating are used. Helium is used as a coolant in these reactors, and helium always remains in the gaseous state except at cryogenic temperatures. According to the statements received, structures called pebbles can withstand temperatures up to 1600 degrees. Moreover, these structures lose more heat than they warm up, thanks to their surface area-to-volume ratio. These reactors can thus regulate the temperature automatically. Thanks to Doppler broadening, the fuel prevents melting by capturing the scattered neutrons.

Shidao Reactor, to the German AVR power plant It is based on and appears as the world’s first commercial pebble-bed reactor. In the trial, the facility prevented melting after a power cut and stabilized within 35 hours.