China’s nuclear reactor features a giant 419-ton water tank for safety

The Haiyang nuclear power plant in China’s Shandong province has reached a significant construction milestone with the installation of the CB-20 module, a massive 419-ton containment water tank integral to the safety system of the first of two new CAP1000 reactors. This tank, measuring 26 meters in diameter and 10 meters in height, stores over 3,000 tonnes of water to be used in emergencies, such as cooling the reactor or the spent fuel pool. The CB-20 is part of the reactor’s advanced passive safety system, which relies on natural forces like gravity and circulation to maintain safety for up to 72 hours without human intervention, enhancing the plant’s emergency preparedness. This development is part of China’s broader effort to expand its nuclear power capacity, with the State Council approving six new CAP1000 reactors in 2022, including Haiyang units 3 and 4, which are scheduled to be operational by 2027 after a 56-month construction period. The Hai