Marine Nuclear Propulsion
| 1 | 1 x 48 MW | 12,000 HP | Type 091 [Han] |
| 1 | 1 x 58 | 14,400 HP | Type 091 [Han] Type 092 [Xia] |
| 2 | 2 x 70-75 MW | 30,000 HP | Type 093 [Shang] Type 094 [Jin] |
| 3 | 1 x 200 MW | 45,000 HP | Type 095 SSGN Type 096 SSBN |
The 909 Institute was China's first generation nuclear submarine research and development test base. Part of the China Nuclear Power Research Institute, China National Nuclear Corporation, Chengdu, Sichuan, it was responsible for casting the "core" for the "dragon" and building the "shield" for China. It developed the country's earliest nuclear power reactor. A nuclear reactor, also known as an atomic reactor or reactor, is a device that can maintain a controllable self-sustaining chain nuclear fission reaction to achieve nuclear energy utilization. The heat energy released by the reactor can be used to generate electricity as a power plant for ships, trains, airplanes, etc.
Lewis and Xue [China’s Strategic Sea Power, pp. 30-31] suggest that the decision on the reactor type was based on the relative political standing of the two institutes involved; however, Carlson and Wang suggest "the decision to go with a loop type reactor was likely based more on pragmatism than politics. The reactor plant for Otto Hahn was an integrated design that produced steam from tube bundles or cassettes located inside the reactor vessel. This was a far more complex reactor setup than a loop-based design that uses external steam generators. In addition, loop-based reactors were adopted by the U.S., Japan, and the USSR, and that would strongly influence the decision. The greater complexity of an integrated reactor, while theoretically superior, came with a much higher risk of failure and the decision to go the simpler route was a prudent one".
In 1956, China began to build an atomic reactor, which reached normal operation level in 1958. It was because of the construction of nuclear reactors that Marshal Nie Rongzhen proposed to the central government in 1958 to develop nuclear submarines. Marshal Nie Rongzhen's military talents. After the founding of New China, Nie Rongzhen spent most of his time on scientific and technological work, participating in the formulation of scientific and technological policies and planning. After taking office, he participated in the formulation of the 12-year plan (draft) with more than 6 million words, and made comprehensive plans and arrangements for industry, agriculture, national defense and other scientific and technological fields.
Marshal Nie Rongzhen then secretly submitted a report to the CPC Central Committee titled "Report on the Development of Missile-carrying Atomic Submarines", numbered "238". The report pointed out that due to the normal operation of the nuclear reactor, national defense arrangements could be considered. According to the needs of future national defense, it was planned to first design and trial-produce an atomic submarine capable of launching missiles. Soon, the report was approved by the central government at all levels.
A few months later, a large number of young technical backbones and experts from all over the country reported to the nuclear submarine design team. In order to maintain confidentiality, the nuclear submarine project was renamed Project 09. In 1959, former General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party Khrushchev came to Beijing to attend the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chairman Mao mentioned the issue of nuclear submarine technology in his conversation with Khrushchev, but Khrushchev arrogantly said: "Nuclear submarines are complex and expensive, so you can't make them. The Soviet Union has nuclear submarines, and you have them too, so we can form a joint fleet."
At the same time, Khrushchev also announced that he would withdraw Soviet technical experts from China. Chairman Mao calmly responded to Khrushchev: "It is a need, but it does not matter. If you can help us with technology, that would be great. If you cannot, it is up to you to decide. We will try to develop nuclear submarines ourselves." Soon after, Chairman Mao gave the highest instruction: "It will take 10,000 years to develop a nuclear submarine!""
Because of the development of nuclear technology, nuclear submarines have ultra-long range, high maneuverability, high concealment, and second-strike capability. It can be said that nuclear submarines are the strategic weapons to balance imperialism in the future. In 1960, the Soviet Union withdrew its technical experts. Scientists engaged in China's most cutting-edge research encountered gret difficulties and hardships while carrying out construction and scientific research in the remote mountain valleys of the southwest during the difficult period of the national economy. In the winter of 1965, they set out from Xizhimen, Beijing, and headed for the "Third Front" with the ardent hopes of the motherland.
Everything started from scratch. There was no housing, so they built their own "dry-rammed earth" and drank water from the rice fields. There were centipedes in the house and poisonous snakes outside. Not to mention the rats, which were so numerous and large that even the cats brought from the city were scared and ran away when they saw them for the first time. Supplies were extremely scarce, the rations were low, and we often didn't have enough to eat. Many daily luxuries such as sugar, soap, and milk powder had to be brought back from outside. Therefore, bringing things with us every time we went on a business trip became one of our important tasks.
The scientific research equipment at that time was very simple, the computer was hand-cranked, and many experimental equipment needed to be made by hand. The best means of transportation to the construction site was an open-top Jiefang car. After walking dozens of miles on the mountain road, we were covered in dirt on sunny days and mud on rainy days. Despite this, everyone worked very enthusiastically, without conditions or compensation, and devoted themselves to the construction of the project.
Under the political pressure of the "Cultural Revolution", all work would be unreasonably elevated to a political level, and if you were not careful, you would be labeled a "counter-revolutionary". Many technical backbones were labeled as "stinking ninths", and were criticized during the day and worked voluntarily at night. Under the extremely difficult living, working and political environment, they built the land model in less than three years.
The entire on-site battle was unprecedented and spectacular. At that time, there were said to be 8,000 soldiers and civilians on the scene, including the civil engineering team of the 27th Company, the installation team of the 23rd Company, the operation and maintenance team of the No. 1 point of the 15th Institute, and the designers and experimental personnel of the design rooms of the No. 2 point. The work was uninterrupted 24 hours a day, working day and night, and rotating around the clock, regardless of day or night. The site was full of people, cars transporting equipment and materials came and went, and the designers and experimental personnel who rotated to install and debug came and went. At night, the battle site was brightly lit and lively. At 12 o'clock in the evening, the canteen's cooking car delivered the dinner. The dinner was simple, just steamed buns and pickles, and everyone lined up to receive it. After a short rest after the meal, some people returned to the residential area, and some returned to their jobs to continue working.
The most important part of a nuclear power plant is composed of the core fuel element assembly, the internal components of the reactor, the pressure vessel cover, the drive mechanism and the top components of the reactor. The installation of the core is the top priority of the construction of the land-based model reactor for nuclear submarines. According to the plan, the land-based model reactor project for nuclear submarines must complete all installation tasks and reach physical criticality before the end of June 1970. The project command organized "five major campaigns" and carried out three-dimensional cross-operation. Eight thousand soldiers and civilians worked day and night on the construction site. The construction site was full of colorful flags, roaring machines, transport vehicles coming and going, and inspiring slogans.
It took less than three months from the official start of the loading on March 29, 1970 to the completion of all installation tasks on June 22. Although the process was short, it was full of difficulties and hardships. The technical difficulties and installation problems encountered were all unexpected. Time was very tight at the time. Under such difficult and high-intensity labor conditions, many tasks were done at the risk of life.
During the pre-assembly stage outside the reactor, the coordination and locking of the head and tail of the fuel element assembly with the upper and lower grid plates of the hanging basket should be solved to ensure the requirements of the core-related dimensions. However, after actual measurement, it was found that 265 of the holes where the upper and lower grid plates of the hanging basket matched the head of the fuel element assembly had excessive apertures and did not meet the technical requirements. Since the hanging basket is a large component weighing dozens of tons, it cannot be returned to the factory for maintenance and can only be solved on the spot. After more than two days of research, the team unanimously agreed to use cast iron grinding rods and grinding powder to solve the problem by hand grinding. In the following seven days and seven nights, all team members and engineering and technical personnel worked in shifts day and night on the site until their hands were blistered and they grinded all 265 apertures to meet the assembly size requirements.
When installing two pairs of neutron sources, it was found that the diameter of the neutron source casing was out of tolerance and could not be inserted into the core. If it was returned to the original factory for repair, time would not allow it. After research, the whole group of comrades decided to solve it on the spot. However, the neutron source casing is different from ordinary material originals. It can produce neutron rays and rays with strong penetrating power. Direct operation without any protective measures will cause great harm to the human body. However, the members of the loading group played the revolutionary fearless spirit of "not afraid of death, not afraid of hardship", took turns on duty, each person was limited to 15 minutes, holding the neutron source tube on the grinder and grinding it, and finally polished the size to meet the assembly standards.
Whether the land-based reactor can reach full power will be the key to whether the nuclear submarine can be launched on time. In October 1969, the land-based reactor device hall entered the installation stage, and nearly 10,000 pieces of equipment, pipelines, and cables were all installed in place in just half a year. After a year of rush construction, more than a dozen laboratories such as thermal hydraulics, corrosion materials, automatic control, and instrumentation were built and put into test operation. The land-based reactor for nuclear submarines finally completed the final preparation stage from the difficulties and ushered in the start-up test.
On June 28, 1970, the reactor reached cold criticality for the first time, marking the completion of the first pressurized water reactor designed and developed by China. On July 18, 1970, the reactor had entered hot and normal power operation. In the afternoon, it was suddenly found that the reactor pressure dropped and was forced to shut down. Several team members conducted inspections in the high temperature of dozens of degrees in the reactor, sweating profusely, and finally found that the cause of the accident was a leak at the brazing joint between the neutron flux measurement tube and the top cover. After joint research by the entire team and the workers, it was decided to solve the problem by adding a casing to weld the top cover. Mei Shucai, Zou Xinyin, Zhu Daquan and other skilled welders from Factory 150 braved the harsh conditions of high temperature and high water vapor, overcame various difficult obstacles in welding operations, and finally solved the welding problem after two days and one night of emergency repairs. The 9 years of reactor operation practice since then has proved that there is no problem with the welding quality of this emergency repair plan.
On the morning of August 30, 1970, the atmosphere inside was different from usual, full of tension. In the room of about 30 square meters, there were more than ten leaders of the Military Control Commission and the superior competent departments. It turned out that the test of full-power operation of the nuclear reactor was in progress, and the power was increasing step by step. At 13:30, the full power of the main engine reached 99.5%. For the last 0.5% sprint, the air in the main control room almost solidified. At 16:30 on August 30, 1970, the land-based reactor reached full power. There were no flowers or applause, but for the builders of the land-based reactor for nuclear submarines, nothing could make them happier.
Carlson and Wang report "China has struggled to develop compact, high power naval reactors. With a power rating of 48 MW (thermal), the original Type 091 reactor vessel is a little smaller than the Russian OK-150 reactor with a power rating of 90 MW (thermal) that is often cited.99 When the Type 093 first appeared in 2002-2003, most references suggested the submarine had a maximum power capability of 150 MW (thermal), which would demand two reactors given the PLANs basic mid-1990s technological capabilities. A number of individuals posting on line did not seem to appreciate this estimate and claimed a single reactor with the same power rating was in the second-generation submarines. If this claim were accurate, then the PLAN would really have no reason to seek Russian assistance for their third-generation boats; but that is exactly what occurred. On September 2, 2010, Rosatom head, Sergei Kiriyenko and Chen Quifa, chair of the China Atomic Energy Authority, agreed to expand Russian and Chinese joint nuclear power programs, to include floating nuclear power plants.101 This agreement ultimately gave China access to detailed technical information on the nuclear reactors Russia was installing on their nuclear power barges and new icebreakers—the KLT-40S and the RITM-200. These reactors would serve as the baseline inspiration for China’s ACPR50S and the ACP100S.... The maximum power rating of the ACPR50S is 200 MW (thermal) and this would be sufficient to propel even a large submarine at high speed.... the OK-650 reactor found in Russian third-generation submarines. The OK-650 has a maximum power rating of 190 MW (thermal) and can achieve up to 30 percent of reactor power using natural circulation.... . Thus, a 200 MW (thermal) reactor with a 30 percent reactor power natural circulation capability is quite probable for PLAN third generation submarines."
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