The "Ultimate Energy" progress bar is here! Nuclear Energy "Three Steps" Academician Forum talks about a new chapter in future energy
What steps are needed to solve mankind's ultimate energy problem?
"We should adhere to the 'three-step' strategy of 'hot reactor-fast reactor-fusion reactor' nuclear energy. While continuing to develop thermal reactors, we will put the development of fast reactor nuclear energy on the fast track, strengthen the research and development and engineering demonstration of controllable nuclear fusion technology, and master the code of mankind's ultimate energy source." Ye Qizhen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said at the "Three-Step" Academician Forum on Nuclear Energy hosted by the Chinese Nuclear Society and hosted by China Nuclear Corporation on July 10.
Now, more than 40 years after the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy was proposed, where has the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy reached? How will the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy create a new era of energy in the future? At the "Three Steps" Academician Forum of Nuclear Energy, many experts discussed in depth the strategic development direction of my country's "Three Steps" of nuclear energy and talked about a new chapter in future energy.
There is huge space for nuclear power development
"When it comes to my country's energy resource endowment, people often talk about 'rich coal',' lack of oil', and 'little gas'. In fact, abundant non-fossil energy resources are an important part of my country's energy resource endowment. When my country enters a stage dominated by non-fossil energy, nuclear energy will play an important basic energy role." Du Xiangwan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said.
"Nuclear power operates stably and has a long refueling cycle. It is the only basic-load power source that can replace fossil energy on a large scale at present and even in the future. It is also the power source with the lowest carbon emissions throughout its life cycle. It has outstanding advantages in the transformation of clean substitution and energy production and consumption revolution. Judging from my country's current development stage, nuclear energy is indispensable to promoting energy transformation in a scientific, safe and orderly manner and achieving the 'double carbon' goal." Du Xiangwan further explained.
Data from the China Nuclear Energy Association show that from January to March 2024, the country's cumulative power generation reached 2.237.27 billion kilowatt-hours, and the cumulative power generation of operating nuclear power units was 104.031 billion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 4.65% of the country's cumulative power generation.
"At present, the global average of nuclear power generation in total power generation is 10%. China's nuclear power generation proportion is less than the world average and much smaller than that of developed nuclear power countries. my country has a complete nuclear power industry chain, strong scientific research facilities and talent team, and there is huge room for nuclear power development." Ye Qizhen said.
Stabilizing thermal reactors: Innovatively developing nuclear power technology
As the first step of the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy, my country's thermal reactor development experience has grown from scratch, from small to large, achieving typeships, standardization, and large-scale development, realizing the transition from "third generation" nuclear power to "fourth generation" nuclear power. Move forward.
At present, my country's independently developed third-generation nuclear power technology "Hualong One" with complete intellectual property rights has achieved mass construction and overseas export. In December 2023, the world's first pebble-bed modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power plant demonstration project was put into commercial operation, marking that my country has reached the world's leading level in the field of fourth-generation nuclear power unit technology.
Looking to the future, the optimization and improvement of thermopile technology will develop in a safer, more efficient and more economical direction. In Ye Qizhen's view, promoting the development of accident-resistant fuels is one of the innovative development directions of thermopiles.
"If the fuel itself has strong anti-accident capabilities, radioactive materials can be contained in the first barrier first. After adopting accident-resistant fuel, the average discharge burn-up of PWR batches will increase accordingly, and the refueling cycle will also increase from 18 months to 24 months, thereby saving fuel and improving availability." Ye Qizhen said.
In addition, integrated development with new technologies will improve the efficiency of thermal reactor operation and maintenance. "Use advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence to develop intelligent monitoring and control systems to achieve real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of reactor operating conditions. Through big data analysis, optimize reactor operating parameters, improve operating efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs." Xing Ji, chief designer of CNNC's "Hualong One", said.
Future nuclear energy application tracks will also target modular small reactors. "The modular small reactor will be integrated and assembled at the factory, which may shorten the nuclear power construction period and allow the project to be completed within 2-3 years. Modular small reactors can be used for cogeneration of heat and power in remote areas and isolated power grids, replacing retired thermal power stations to achieve urban district heating, and playing a role in industrial process heating, seawater desalination, etc." Ye Qizhen said.
Implementing fast reactors: achieving large-scale sustainable development of nuclear energy
Compared with thermal reactor technology, fast reactors, the second step of the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy, have the advantages of high utilization of uranium resources, high inherent safety of reactors, and minimization of high-level radioactive waste.
"The development of thermopiles relies more on natural uranium. Uranium-235, which only accounts for 0.7% of the natural uranium, is burned. Most of the uranium resources are not utilized. The fast reactor can utilize uranium-238, which accounts for 99% of natural uranium resources, greatly improving the utilization rate of uranium resources." Ye Qizhen said.
In addition, fast reactors have transmutation functions, which can consume long-half-life and high-radioactive nuclides in the reactor, minimize radioactive waste, and solve problems such as difficulty in handling nuclear waste. They are an important choice for achieving large-scale sustainable development of nuclear energy.
"Whether it is to achieve a circular economy and improve the utilization of uranium resources, or to transform high-emission and long-life nuclear waste, it is necessary to develop fast neutron reactor nuclear power plants. Timely launching the second step of the 'three-step' strategy of nuclear energy is a strategic task before us." Ye Qizhen said.
According to Ye Guoan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, countries around the world regard fast reactor technology as an important breakthrough in promoting the innovative development of nuclear energy, and actively formulate various policies and measures to seize the commanding heights of development. The integrated fast reactor nuclear energy system is regarded as a realistic choice for developing advanced closed fuel cycles and will lead the development of a new generation of advanced nuclear energy technology around the world.
"To develop the 'three-step' strategy of nuclear energy, we must move towards stable thermal reactors, solid fast reactors, and fusion reactors. Among them, taking a solid fast pile is a key step." Ye Guoan believes that "in order to ensure the success of my country's integrated fast reactor research and development, it is necessary to plan and implement major national science and technology projects for integrated fast reactors, fully rely on important platforms such as the Integrated Fast Reactor Innovation Consortium and the Fast Reactor Industry Alliance, and coordinate the use of domestic industry, academia and research The most advantageous force will accelerate scientific and technological research and improvement of technical capabilities, and contribute important forces to supporting national energy security, building an advanced closed fuel cycle system, and seizing the commanding heights of nuclear science and technology strategies."
Take a walk in the fusion reactor: lighting up the dream of clean energy
Everything grows by the sun. The "planting the sun" sung in nursery rhymes is becoming a reality little by little with the joint efforts of all mankind. The "artificial sun" born by simulating solar nuclear fusion has gradually lightened the dream of clean energy that mankind yearn for.
As one of the first countries to participate in the design of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Program (ITER), my country's engineering and scientific personnel have deeply participated in the construction and research of ITER over the past ten years, accelerating my country's magnetic confinement nuclear fusion and high-tech industry development pace.
"Fusion energy is an ideal energy source without pollution, long-lived radioactive nuclear waste, and unlimited resources. The goal of ITER is to verify the tokamak operating model and prepare scientifically and engineering for future thermonuclear fusion demonstration reactors and commercial reactors. At the same time, ITER's innovation and derivative products have also promoted the development of manufacturing, medicine and other fields." said Luo Delong, deputy director general of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization.
"People are full of expectations for controlled nuclear fusion, which will bring us an energy future. In the future, my country will continue to promote the development of fast reactors and fusion reactors and achieve greater breakthroughs in the field of nuclear energy science and technology. Strive to let nuclear fusion light the first light bulb in my country by the middle of this century." Du Xiangwan said.
In the next step, how will the "three-step" strategy of nuclear energy be deepened and implemented? In this regard, Yu Jianfeng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of CNNC, said that it is necessary to vigorously promote the development of thermal reactors, promote the optimization of "Hualong-1" technology, promote the commercial promotion and multi-purpose application of high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and promote the global promotion of small reactors; accelerate the promotion of fast reactors. Develop million-kilowatt commercial fast reactors, promote the research and development of integrated fast reactors, strive to achieve integrated fast reactor engineering demonstrations before 2035, and complete and put into operation large reprocessing plants with commercial application conditions; Actively promote fusion research and development, build a world-class Chinese fusion platform enterprise, carry out deuterium and tritium tests, actively deploy future fusion industries, and build fusion pilot experimental reactors and commercial demonstration power stations as soon as possible.
"Over the past 40 years since the implementation of the 'three-step' strategy of nuclear energy, my country has always adhered to the safe development and innovative development of nuclear energy. The scale of nuclear power installed capacity is leading the world, and nuclear energy technology has entered the first camp in the world. Standing at a new starting point in the new era, we must accelerate the better implementation of the 'three-step' strategy of nuclear energy, use the 'three-step' strategy to promote high-quality development of the nuclear energy industry, help comprehensively build a powerful nuclear industry, and comprehensively promote Chinese-style modernization. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation contributes 'nuclear' power." Wang Shoujun, chairman and secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese Nuclear Society, said.
