The innovation and development of nuclear energy technology have a compass  

Recently, the National Energy Administration and the Ministry of Science and Technology jointly issued the "14th Five-Year Plan" for Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Energy Sector (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan").  Plan, with scientific and technological innovation as the focus, to crack the problem of high-quality energy development in our country in the Fourteen Five-Year Plan period, and realize the organic connection with the national science and technology long-term planning and special planning of the "Fourteen Five-Year Plan" modern energy system planning and so on.  Centering on the direction of technological innovation and development of the whole industrial chain of nuclear energy utilization, the Plan lays out an all-round deployment of innovation tasks in the field of nuclear energy in the coming period, which serves as a compass for the innovation and development of nuclear energy technology.  

Development trend of nuclear energy at home and abroad  

The world's understanding of nuclear energy has been developing in the past nuclear security and energy crises.  After the Fukushima accident, the global nuclear power construction has entered a stage of prudent and prudent development. China has postponed the approval of new nuclear power projects, and voices of abandoning nuclear power have been growing internationally.  However, with the increasing demand for clean and low-carbon energy development in the international community in recent years, and the soaring global energy prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, the development of nuclear energy in the world has shown a trend of revival.  The International Energy Agency recommends that Europe delay the shutdown of nuclear reactors to cut demand for gas;  Germany, which had planned to completely shut down nuclear power plants this year, is reconsidering delaying the shutdown of nuclear power plants and even restarting old ones.  France has announced plans to build six new reactors in 2028 and eight more after that;  The UK plans to build one new nuclear power unit a year from 2022 to 2030.  The 14th Five-Year Plan for Modern Energy System, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, clearly states that during the 14th Five-Year Plan, China will actively develop nuclear power industry in a safe and orderly way, among which "coastal nuclear power projects" are highlighted.  

Nuclear energy is a safe, clean, low-carbon and high-energy strategic energy source.  Developing nuclear energy is a rational and realistic choice for China to break through the bottleneck of resource and environment, ensure energy security and achieve green and low carbon development.  In addition, among all kinds of power sources, nuclear power is stable and reliable. Like coal power and hydropower, it can provide the moment of inertia needed for the safe and stable operation of the power system, improve the damping of the power system, strengthen the resilience of system disturbance, reduce the possibility of harmonic pollution of the system, and improve the security and reliability of power grid supply.  At the same time, nuclear power is equipped with a certain load regulation capacity, which can be coordinated with wind power and solar power, and is an important part of the construction of new power system with new energy as the main body.  

The development trend of nuclear energy technology innovation  

According to the Plan, scientific and technological innovation is the primary driving force for development, and accelerating scientific and technological innovation in the energy field is an inevitable requirement to ensure national energy security and build an innovative country and a strong scientific and technological country.  Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, despite a temporary slowdown in nuclear power construction worldwide, research and development for safer and more advanced nuclear power technologies has never stopped.  After the process of continuous improvement and gradual upgrading, the world nuclear power technology has now entered the transformation and upgrading stage from the second generation nuclear power to the third generation nuclear power, as well as the research and development of the fourth generation nuclear power technology and the demonstration and verification stage of part of the stack.  

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China's capacity for independent innovation in nuclear power technology has been significantly improved: significant progress has been made in a number of key technologies, a number of key equipment and materials have been domestically produced, a number of internationally leading large-scale platforms and test facilities have been completed, and a number of key core technologies with independent intellectual property rights have been acquired.  Model R & D capability has made significant progress:  The completion of "Hualong One" and the successful research and development of CAP1400 mark that China has become another country with independent three-generation nuclear power technology and the whole industrial chain after the United States, France, Russia and other nuclear power countries. The high temperature gas cooled reactor demonstration project has been successfully connected to the grid, and the 600,000-kilowatt demonstration fast reactor project has entered the installation stage.  Construction of the Linglong One (ACP100) small reactor demonstration project has started, the preliminary design of the pool type cryogenic heating reactor has been completed, and the model development of the nuclear-powered icebreaker has been completed.  Major breakthroughs have been made in the nuclear fuel cycle industry chain: the 800-meter ultra-deep ground leaching process for uranium mining has been successfully applied; the CF3 fuel has completed the full-cycle reactor operation test; the ATF fuel cladding coating and high-density pellet technology have been mastered; and the post-processing scientific research project has been fully implemented.  

In general, the innovation of nuclear energy technology at home and abroad is developing in the direction of being safer, more economical, standardized and diversified, meeting the needs of a wider range of users, and closely integrating with new technologies such as "big data" and "artificial intelligence".  The application scenarios of nuclear energy have expanded from single "power supply" to "national energy, civil-military integration, Marine development and comprehensive utilization", and the supply of products has expanded from pure "electricity" to "electricity, heat, steam, water and isotopes" and other multi-purposes.  In terms of recent development, in the large-scale power supply market, large and ultra-large third-generation pressurized water reactors are the main models of nuclear power construction and replacement, while small modular reactors are the key to promote the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy.  

The goal and direction of the development of nuclear science and technology  

During the period of "difference", based on current situation of the development of nuclear power technology in China and the actual situation of science and technology innovation ability, focus on the key technology of breakthrough of others, critical materials and key equipment, promote upgrading of the nuclear power technology, to promote a new generation of nuclear power technology development, actively explore small modular reactor multipurpose utilization, breaks through the pressurized water reactor closed fuel cycle,  Drive the whole industrial chain of nuclear energy to achieve high quality development and accelerate the transformation of China from nuclear power to nuclear power.  Specifically include the following aspects.  

We will promote the optimization and upgrading of third-generation nuclear power technologies and models, and further enhance equipment autonomy.  With the goal of mass development and international market promotion and application, the company will further improve the safety, economy and site adaptability of third-generation nuclear power units, solidify and upgrade the design and manufacturing process of nuclear power equipment, improve equipment reliability, and perfect the standardized model and model pedigree of third-generation nuclear power plants with fully independent intellectual property rights.  We will carry out optimal design of heating (cooling) schemes for large nuclear power units, promote research on core equipment and key technologies for nuclear desalination and nuclear hydrogen production, and explore solutions for integrated energy systems that complement multiple energy sources such as wind power, photovoltaic power, energy storage and hydrogen energy, so as to improve the efficiency of the comprehensive use of nuclear energy.  

We will develop small modular reactors and lead the world in the application of multifunctional and comprehensive nuclear energy.  Complete the integration and intelligent design of typical advanced modular small reactor projects to meet the application conditions in industrial parks, islands, bases and other scenarios;  To standardize the design, equipment, construction and supporting system of small heating reactor, and to carry out commercial demonstration of small heating reactor in due course;  Research on key technologies such as the overall technical scheme of floating reactor unit;  Breakthrough of key generic technologies for mobile reactors.  

We will advance research and development of next-generation reactor technologies in an orderly manner and develop new application scenarios.  Focus on the new generation reactors with leading technological advantages such as (ultra-high temperature) gas-cooled reactors and thorium molten salt reactors.  During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, it carried out optimization and transformation of key equipment such as electromagnetic bearings for the main helium fan of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and developed application technologies for "heat-electricity-hydrogen" polygeneration.  To construct a 20-MW small modular thorium molten salt research reactor and scientific facilities, explore the rules of fuel conversion in the reactor, establish standard methods for material failure assessment and life prediction of molten salt reactor, and complete the research, development and verification of the coupling technology between thorium molten salt reactor and power generation system.  

Efforts have been made to develop support technologies for the whole industrial chain, and breakthroughs have been made in spent fuel reprocessing and nuclear power plant life extension technologies.  Research will be carried out on advanced nuclear fuel, spent fuel reprocessing, radioactive waste treatment and other technologies and equipment; research will be carried out on strategies for the safe and reliable operation of nuclear power plant managers; and demonstration will be carried out on the renewal of operating licenses for nuclear power units whose service life is about to expire.  In terms of supporting technologies for major infrastructure facilities, China will accelerate the development of experimental verification technologies for advanced theoretical research results, such as reactor thermal, hydraulic and severe accident mechanisms, and support the construction and upgrading of high-level platforms and research facilities.  

Study the crossover and fusion innovation of nuclear power and other frontier disciplines in the future.  Focusing on the crossover and integration innovation between nuclear power and other frontier disciplines in the future, we will promote the application of related technologies such as Internet of things, big data and artificial intelligence in the nuclear power field, including R&D, design, construction and operation, safety supervision, life extension and decommissioning.  

Suggestions on technological development in the field of nuclear energy  

It is suggested that the state further strengthen the top-level design and overall coordination system layout, and establish and improve the nuclear science and technology innovation system;  Strengthening basic research, especially research on common issues such as nuclear power equipment materials, irradiation-resistant nuclear fuel and structural materials;  Strengthen the coordinated and supporting development of the nuclear power industry chain, including the front end and the back end.  

It is suggested to rely on the existing scientific research institutions and enterprises with strength in nuclear-related fields, integrate domestic resources, and establish a national laboratory for nuclear energy, so as to concentrate on promoting the healthy and rapid development of our nuclear energy industry and promote the transformation of our energy to green and low carbon.