en.Wedoany.com Reported - South Korea's Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 is about to commence its first concrete pouring. Just one year after Unit 3 began pouring in May last year, both Units 3 and 4 are now entering the main construction phase, further accelerating the construction of the Korean-designed nuclear power plant.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) will begin the First Concrete Pouring (FCD) for Shin Hanul Unit 4 on the 27th. FCD refers to the initial pouring of concrete for the reactor building foundation, marking the official commencement of the construction phase for large-scale structures like nuclear power plants.
With Unit 4 joining the construction process, it will proceed in parallel with Unit 3, which began construction last year. Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 are located in the northern area of Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, and the project involves the construction of two 1,400 MW Advanced Pressurized Water Reactors (APR1400). Both units are being constructed by Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Doosan Enerbility, and POSCO E&C, with KEPCO Engineering & Construction responsible for the overall design and Doosan Enerbility supplying the major equipment.
The APR1400 is South Korea's independently developed Generation III pressurized water reactor. Compared to the previous OPR1000 model, its power generation capacity is 40% higher, and its design life has been extended from 40 to 60 years. Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 will become the 7th and 8th APR1400 units built in South Korea.
The design of Shin Hanul Unit 4 incorporates construction experience from preceding APR1400 projects, including Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2 and Saewul Units 3 and 4, and reflects design changes approved by regulatory bodies to further enhance safety.
To cope with Station Blackout (SBO) events, the unit upgrades the configuration of the Alternate AC Diesel Generator (AAC-DG) from "one per two units" to "one per unit," enhancing the redundancy of emergency power supplies. In the event of a severe accident, the Main Control Room will independently display critical information such as reactor core water level, helping operators quickly assess the reactor's status. Additionally, the project has added a detection system for the early identification of radioactive material leaks.
Issues identified in previous nuclear power projects have also been rectified in this design and construction phase. To prevent construction defects such as voids potentially forming inside structures during concrete pouring, the project parties have refined design drawings and work procedures; the Pilot Operated Safety Relief Valve (POSRV) will also utilize an improved product.
Shin Hanul Unit 4 is scheduled for completion in October 2033, while Unit 3 is targeted for completion in 2032. The construction of the two units is expected to involve a cumulative total of 7.22 million person-days. Based on a 60-year operational period, the related statutory support funds are estimated to be approximately 2.1541 trillion won.
Once both units enter commercial operation, their annual power generation is expected to be approximately 20,358 GWh. Based on the electricity consumption of a four-person household, this can meet the needs of approximately 4.84 million households, equivalent to about 40% of Seoul's annual electricity demand and about 46.5% of North Gyeongsang Province's annual electricity demand.
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