China successfully forged the world's first third-generation nuclear power evaporator cone cylinder
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China's leading heavy equipment manufacturing company, the country's first heavy machinery group, has made a breakthrough in nuclear power technology by successfully forging the world's first third-generation nuclear power component—the AP1000 evaporator cone cylinder. This achievement not only fills a domestic gap but also positions China at the forefront of global third-generation nuclear power manufacturing.
As a key standard for third-generation nuclear power technology, the Westinghouse AP1000 is widely recognized as safer and more efficient than its second-generation counterparts. It represents the most advanced and reliable nuclear technology in the global market. However, producing critical components like the pressure vessel's integral top cover and the evaporator cone cylinder demands significant technical advancements due to their high complexity and strict requirements.
With the commissioning of a 15,000-ton hydraulic press, China significantly enhanced its heavy forging capabilities. In November 2007, the company signed a contract with South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries to supply third-generation nuclear power evaporator cones for its No. 1 and No. 2 units. This marked the beginning of China's production of third-generation nuclear power components. To support this effort, China implemented an AP1000 localization strategy while introducing advanced foreign technology. This initiative posed unprecedented challenges that motivated Chinese engineers and technicians to push the boundaries of their expertise.
One of the main challenges was forging the straight sections of the cone-shaped cylinder. Traditionally, the cylinder was forged into a "horn" shape, requiring extensive post-processing to meet the required specifications. This method led to significant material waste, increased costs, and longer production times. To address this issue, Chinese engineers developed special auxiliary tools and conducted extensive computer simulations to refine the forging process and find effective solutions.
After years of collaborative efforts between experts, engineers, and workers, the world's first third-generation nuclear power evaporator cone cylinder was finally completed. The remaining 37 forgings for Doosan’s No. 1 and No. 2 units are currently in production and are expected to be delivered by 2009. This milestone marks a major step forward in China’s nuclear energy industry and demonstrates the nation's growing technical capabilities on the global stage.