Current Status and Development of Nuclear Energy and Education in China

Transcription

1 Current Status and Development of Nuclear Energy and Education in China Yang Yanhua School of Nuclear and Engineering Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, , China Abstract:China is coming to a high speed developing stage for nuclear power generation. Since 2005, a middle-long-term plan to develop nuclear power plant was decided by Chinese Government. The plan states that 40GWe of nuclear power generation will be in operation by 2020.To promote the high development of nuclear power generation and increase the national production ability, China wishes to unify the technique way and aims to become self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. This year, the U.S.-based Westinghouse's AP1000 technique has been decided for this purpose. A framework contract had been signed in February 2007 to buy four third-generation pressurized water reactors from the Westinghouse Electric Co., which also included technologies transfers to China. In China, there are four universities which have nuclear departments with long history. Since 2004, with the increase of the demand for the development of nuclear power generation, many universities in China began to set up the department of nuclear engineering. Currently, the annual graduation is about 500 nuclear engineering students, above 80 graduate students, and the number is still increasing year on year. In addition, the adoption of new college students pre-service training, internal job transfer training, above 2000 new staff each year for nuclear industry. With the continuing rapidly growing demand and the development of nuclear power generation, this form of training in recent years China is the only way to solve the shortage of nuclear professional personnel. Key Words: Development of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Education in China 1002

2 Current Status and Development of Nuclear Energy in China China is coming to a high speed developing stage for nuclear power generation. As of 2007, there are a total of 11 units of nuclear power plants in operation, with total capacity of nuclear power generation being about 8.6GW, most of those being PWR. Since 2005, a middle-long-term plan to develop nuclear power plant was decided by Chinese Government. The plan states that 40GWe of nuclear power generation will be in operation by 2020, with a further 18 GWe nuclear being under construction then, requiring an average of 2 GWe per year being added in the next 15 years. In May 2007 the National Development and Reform Commission announced that its target for nuclear generation capacity in 2030 was 160 GWe. Now, four more are under construction, and at least four more about to start construction from To promote the high development of nuclear power generation and increase the national production ability, China wishes to unify the technique way and aims to become self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. Thus, to maximize domestic manufacturing of plant and equipment, with self-reliance in design and project management, is set as the key element of China nuclear energy policy. Nevertheless, the international cooperation is encouraged. As the first step, the most advanced reactor of third generation is selected as the unified type, so-called nuclear power generation relyon project, for the purpose to reach the bitch manufactures in the future. This year, the U.S.-based Westinghouse s AP1000 technique has been decided for this purpose. A framework contract had been signed in February 2007 to buy four thirdgeneration pressurized water reactors from the Westinghouse Electric Co., which also included technologies transfers to China. The four new NPPs are located on Sanmen and Haiyan. It is expected that large numbers of thirdgeneration PWR reactors derived from foreign technology will be built from about 2016, after experience is gained with the initial Sanmen and Haiyang plants. Currently, there re more than 20 nuclear power stations candidate sites in China, and showing a develop trend from coastal areas to inland. Many 1003

3 provinces are planning to construct nuclear power plant. NPP distribution in China NPP in operating NPP in/(will be in) construction NPP in planning NPP in operating NPP in/(will be in) construction NPP in planning 北京 上海 红沿河, 2x900MWe 海阳田湾, 秦山, 三门,2 1000MWe 秦山二期 -2 2x600MWe 阳江,2 1000MWe 德清 大亚湾, 3800MWe 岭东,2x900MWe Pic. NPP distribution in China In May 2000, the State Nuclear Power Technology Co., co-funded by the State Council and four large stateowned enterprises including China National Nuclear Corporation, was launched. The new company is authorized by the State Council to sign contracts for third-generation nuclear power technologies transfer from other countries on behalf of China. By signing formal negotiations with Westinghouse on introducing AP1000 nuclear island systems and equipments in July, China is launching a third generation of nuclear power plants construction. However, before the AP1000 reaches its in operation, we still need more nuclear power generation to make up the recent year s shortage of NPPs. Therefore, a large amount NPPs of second generation plus are still the main reactor type for new plants before Amount of new nuclear plants are prepared to be built in the five years, 1004

4 thus as Hongyanhe NPP, Ninde NPP, Fuqing NPP. Some of which may select EPR, such as Yangjiang NPP. Besides, the Rongchen NPP is selected as the HTR of 200 MW. More than 16 provinces, regions and municipalities have announced intentions to build nuclear power plants in the twelfth 5- year plan According to China's medium and long term planning on nuclear power development, it is requested to achieve independent design of nuclear power plant and equipment manufacturing localization before China issued a "medium and long term nuclear power development plan", promoting the "large advanced pressurized water reactor localization and high temperature gas cooled reactor major technological research" project. Nuclear technology is changing from depending on introduction to localization and independent design. Status and development of Nuclear Education System in China In China, the nuclear science affiliates to nuclear science and technology subjects, which mainly composed by the nuclear science and engineering, radioprotection and environmental science, nuclear fuel cycle, and other subjects that related to nuclear technology applications. In China, there are four universities which have nuclear departments with long history. They are Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Harbin Engineering University. The first was set up around 1958, with a history of 50 years Since 2004, with the increase of the demand for the development of nuclear power generation, many universities in China began to set up the department of nuclear engineering. Additional including: North China Electric Power University, Sichuan University, etc. Currently, there are about 300 bachelors and 100 masters of nuclear engineering graduate from colleges every year. However, these students are far from meeting the current demand for nuclear power industry. As a large number of new nuclear plants need a large number of professional graduates, all universities adopt responses including the student expansion, joint cultivation, professional training, etc. Currently, the annual graduation is about 500 nuclear engineering students, above 80 graduate 1005

5 students,and the annual new students is more than 700, and the number is still increasing year on year. In addition, the adoption of new college students preservice training, internal job transfer training, above 2000 new staff each year for nuclear industry. With the continuing rapidly growing demand and the development of nuclear power generation, this form of training in recent years China is the only way to solve the shortage of nuclear professional personnel. As for the department of nuclear technique, there re some comprehensive universities have set up departments like this, such as Peking University, University of Science and Technology of China. The nuclear technique departments of these universities are inclined to technical physics and have nothing to do with the nuclear application except research on fusion theory. For a long time, it s difficult for a student graduated from nuclear chemical engineering to find a job in developed east China. So many universities canceled this department. But now it s becoming increasing important for nuclear chemical engineering in fuel cycle system, so it s facing the difficulty of shortage of professional. Several universities are willing to resume nuclear chemical engineering department and they are taking some actions. However, the problem that the job can t satisfy the graduates hasn t been effectively resolved, so there s difficulty in recruiting students. Before 2006 nuclear science is a secondary subject under energy and dynamical in China. So even nuclear technology is nothing to do with energy it s also under it. It leads to unreasonable subject setting. Normally nuclear science and nuclear technology can t be in the same school. Except for Tsinghua University, in other universities normally nuclear power energy department is under school of energy and dynamical, and nuclear technology department always under school of physics. In 2006 China separate nuclear engineering from nuclear technology department, now it includes: nuclear reactor, nuclear radioprotection, nuclear material and chemical engineering, nuclear technology and nuclear physics. Every university choose several subjects according to it s own characteristic, such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and 1006

6 Xi an Jiao Tong University. It will be further development in various fields of nuclear science. 1007