The World’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Is Sending Power to the Grid

Interesting Engineering ^ | 4 Jan 2022 | Chris Young

[DUMBGRUNT]

China connected its first small modular nuclear reactor to its power grid, making it the first country in the world to draw power from such a machine, a report from Bloomberg reveals.

China Huaneng Group Co.'s 200-megawatt unit 1 reactor at Shidao Bay is connected to the grid in the Shandong province. The company is also developing a second reactor, which is scheduled to go into full operation next year following tests.

The 200-megawatt small modular reactor (SMR) is roughly a fifth of the size of China's first proprietary reactor design, called Hualong One. Its small size allows for greater scalability as well as reduced operations and deployment costs.

The new modular nuclear reactor is the world's first pebble-bed modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. Instead of heating up water, it heats helium to produce energy. The machine is designed to quickly shut down if an error occurs.

[politicianslie]

Were George and Henry still manning the reactor when you were there?

I was an EE at UF. Rickover's navy taught me everything I know about neutrons. I had a few more indirect interactions with Rickover after the little bastard threw me out of his office on the first interview. All of those stories with Rickover are best forgotten.