First Steam Generator of Lufeng Nuclear Power Unit 1 Hoisted into Place

Recently, the first steam generator of Unit 1 of the Guangdong Lufeng Nuclear Power Project, constructed by China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. (CNI23), was smoothly and steadily hoisted into place, with the entire process under safety control. The achievement of this major milestone marks a breakthrough in the installation of the nuclear island's main equipment for the project and lays a solid foundation for the subsequent fit-up and welding of the main coolant piping.

As the core hub of the primary and secondary loops of the CAP1000 reactor, the steam generator performs the critically important functions of heat exchange and steam generation. A single unit weighs approximately 630 tonnes, and its on-site hoisting operation faces multiple world-class engineering challenges, including the enormous tonnage of the equipment, the need for complex on-site flipping, and the extremely limited space for positioning inside the nuclear island.

To ensure the success of this heavy-lift operation and achieve precise positioning, the Lufeng Nuclear Power Project team joined forces with the Nuclear Reactor Company to carry out comprehensive technical research. After multiple rounds of scheme verification, sandbox simulation, digital modeling, and process simulation, the team precisely identified stress risk points during the hoisting process, optimized the overall hoisting path, and configured dedicated lifting fixtures and tooling. Combined with the application of three-dimensional collision detection and guiding devices, the risks associated with flipping, cavity entry, and positioning were successfully mitigated on site, with positioning errors strictly controlled within the design-allowable range.

The successful positioning of the first steam generator fully verified the project's on-site capabilities in organizing heavy-lift operations for large equipment, multi-disciplinary collaborative work, and full-process quality control. The project department stated that it will continue to uphold the work style of "strictness, prudence, meticulousness, and practicality," steadily advance the installation of subsequent main equipment in the nuclear island, and strive to make a strong push in the fourth quarter to ensure the successful completion of all annual construction targets and tasks.