Commissioning of the THTR-300

The contract for the THTR-300 nuclear power plant equipped with a thorium high temperature reactor of 300 MW electric capacity was awarded to the THTR Consortium by HKG on October 29, 1971. The first partial construction permit was issued in May 1971; the period of delivery counts from February 1, 1972. Commissioning of the reactor, for which the first partial operating permit had been issued on July 19, 1983, began on August 30, 1983, as scheduled, with fueling and the zero power tests. After fueling with approx. 200,000 operating elements, the reactor attained its first critically on September 13, 1983. Subsequent complete loading of the reactor core with some 675,000 operating elements was completed on October 11, 1983. All commissioning steps covered under the first partial operating permit were completed successfully by January 24, 1985. The THTR-300 was converted to helium and power tests could be started after the second partial operating permit had been received on April 9, 1985. This second permit covers the power increase in steps up to the full design power level. Delivery to the operator is planned for October 1, 1985. The THTR-300 demonstrates the technology of the large pebble bed HTR. A complete line of high temperature reactors in the power range up to 600 MW can now be offered on the basis of the THTR-300, also as a dual unit plant of up to 1200 MW. (orig.)