China has marked a significant milestone in industrial innovation with the launch of Heqi-1, the nation's first nuclear-powered industrial steam supply project. The project began operations on Wednesday at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, according to the China Atomic Energy Authority.
Heqi-1 harnesses steam generated from the turbine systems of two power units to produce industrial steam through a multi-layered isolation system, ensuring safety and efficiency. This industrial steam is then transported via pipelines to the nearby petrochemical industrial base, located approximately 23 kilometers from the power plant, using a state-of-the-art multi-stage heat transfer system.
The innovative use of nuclear-heated steam is set to significantly reduce coal consumption in petrochemical plants, which require high temperatures and pressures for chemical reactions. Zhang Yi, chairman of Jiangsu Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., highlighted the scale of the project, stating, \"This is the very first application of such scale in the world. Unlike those small-scale attempts before, the Heqi-1 can produce 600 tonnes of industrial steam in just one hour. We overcame many technical difficulties and made breakthroughs to ensure the quality of the industrial steam, especially in heat transfer and long-distance transportation.\"
Wan Falin, general manager of Jiangsu Fangyang Energy Technology Co., Ltd., added, \"We researched long-distance transportation and adopted a new method of thermal insulation. The nuclear-powered industrial steam meets the demand in the industrial park, providing stability and achieving carbon reduction goals.\"
Annually, the project is expected to deliver 4.8 million tonnes of zero-carbon steam from the power plant to the petrochemical base, reducing the combustion equivalent of 400,000 tonnes of standard coal. This translates to a reduction of over 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, 184 tonnes of sulfur dioxide, and 263 tonnes of nitrogen oxides.
Heqi-1, developed in collaboration with various partners, is poised to serve as a model for clean industrial steam supply in the petrochemical industry, driving high-quality development and sustainable growth in China.
Reference(s):
China's nuclear-powered industrial steam supply begins operation
cgtn.com
