A big country of aerospace with black technology.

In the desert, the first nuclear power unit is about to complete construction and be put into trial operation.

"What are the results of the preparation of N36?"

Zhang Xingyang came to the materials laboratory and asked.

Su Xiao's face was full of exhaustion, "The first batch of prepared N36 has an unsatisfactory ingredient ratio."

"I've had them prepare it again."

"However, we are indeed not that skilled in vacuum consumable arc smelting."

"It may take some time to prepare qualified N36 materials."

The two were standing in the laboratory chatting, and the researchers at the surrounding workstations were peeking at them.

Especially the Xiaoxing faction, who thought the two were together, peeked and communicated using messaging software.

In their vision, a love drama has been imagined.

It's just that the two parties have completely different feelings.

Zhang Xingyang said, "Try to complete it within a month, so that we can just catch up with the trial operation of Unit 1."

"Synchronously complete the strong radiation test of materials."

As a component of the reactor core component heat exchanger, N36 zirconium alloy must be able to withstand strong radiation.

General materials, when exposed to strong radiation, will inevitably experience shortened service life, reduced strength, etc.

Zirconium alloy is the most suitable material for use in nuclear reactors.

Has a low atomic thermal neutron absorption cross section.

This allows zirconium alloys to still not experience a significant decrease in strength in a strong radiation environment.

"I understand, I will speed up." Su Xiao nodded slightly.

Looking at Lidya Su's haggard face, Zhang Xingyang said:

"But you must also pay attention to your health and don't tire yourself out."

After saying that, he walked around the laboratory and looked at everyone's work progress.

Zhang Xingyang left the materials laboratory.

As the head of the entire nuclear research institute, there are many things he needs to do.

The time you can spend in one department is limited.

Not to mention, Zhang Xingyang also has to take care of the construction of a nuclear power plant.

Even more overwhelmed.

"Sister Su, what did the director just say to you?"

As soon as Zhang Xingyang left, someone came over to inquire.

"Next, we'll be very busy."

Su Xiao said to everyone in the laboratory.

"Within a month, we will complete the development of N36 alloy!"

There was a sudden cry in the laboratory.

Before this, they had already tried to prepare materials once.

Of course, it is clear that development work cannot be completed in one month.

But such a short period of time means that each of them has to work intensive overtime in order to complete the work with quality and quantity.

"Unit 1 will be put into trial operation in a month. If the development work is not completed by then."

"Then we can only wait for the next operating cycle."

"It will delay at least three months."

Su Xiao explained the key to this.

The amount of nuclear radiation in different operating cycles of a nuclear reactor is not exactly the same.

If N36 zirconium alloy is to be put into use, it must complete several full-cycle experiments of operating cycles.

Everyone in the laboratory does not know the importance of time.

Just complaining and talking.

At the construction site of Unit 1, the scaffolding of intertwined steel pipes has not yet been dismantled.

Zhang Xingyang stood in the somewhat messy operation room of Unit 1, "Old Li, is it really possible to complete all the preliminary work of Unit 1 within a month?"

Zhang Xingyang does not have much relevant experience in the nuclear power construction cycle.

Although I also gained a lot of theoretical knowledge from different channels.

But it is obviously not as rich as Li Fei, an expert who has been engaged in the nuclear power industry for many years.

"The construction of the reactor can actually be completed, but some supporting facilities, such as substations, have not yet been completed."

Li Fei pointed to the empty place and said.

"Then our trial operation time will remain unchanged?"

Zhang Xingyang said with some uncertainty.

"Can safety be guaranteed?"

Li Fei laughed and said, "Of course there is no problem. Our reactor is a third-generation reactor."

"The use of double-layer concrete shells has great advantages in dealing with crises in all aspects."

"Even if it is an enemy's ground-penetrating bomb, it will take a lot of effort to break through our nuclear reactor."

"What about earthquake resistance?" Zhang Xingyang asked immediately.

Li Fei said in confusion, "I don't know what you think."

"But according to your proposal, we still made earthquake-proof and shock-absorbing designs for everything in the nuclear power plant."

"According to current design standards, it can withstand at least a magnitude 8 earthquake."

Zhang Xingyang lowered his head slightly and looked at the ground beneath his feet.

"Nothing, just preparing for a rainy day."

If it is said that two years later, an eight-magnitude super earthquake will occur in China.

Even with Zhang Xingyang's current status, it is difficult for people to believe it.

It can only be affected from other aspects, sideways.

Before this, Zhang Xingyang had repeatedly proposed that public facilities built in the southwest, such as schools and hospitals, must have earthquake-resistant designs.

And it must be able to withstand at least an eight-magnitude earthquake.

Most of Zhang Xingyang's salary and bonuses over the years have been invested in the Southwest Hope Primary School project.

The only requirement is that these primary schools have adequate earthquake-resistant design.

"Then you are really thoughtful."

Li Fei didn't think too much.

Thinking about Zhou Xiang in advance is what they should do.

If you pay a little attention to this aspect, it won't be a big problem.

"In terms of water use, I have also negotiated with the local area, and we can draw water directly from the reservoir."

Third-generation reactors still need to use a lot of water.

The main reason is that when a steam turbine works, a massive amount of water is needed to form steam to drive the steam turbine.

Fortunately, there is a very large reservoir locally.

It can supply the operation needs of Unit 1.

"Although the water vapor in the steam turbine does not carry any radiation."

After listening to this, Zhang Xingyang said, "But we must still take relevant countermeasures and do a good job in testing the discharged water."

"Don't let local residents have a bad impression of us."

In public view, nuclear power plants are filled with various types of nuclear radiation.

Even those living in the surrounding area will be affected by nuclear radiation all year round.

Not to mention the water discharged from nuclear power plants.

If not handled properly, it can easily cause a variety of problems.

In fact, nuclear radiation decays very quickly.

Concrete less than half a meter thick can block 99% of nuclear radiation.

In the sacred books and militia training manuals of the last century, there are contents related to nuclear war. Mentioned that when a nuclear bomb explodes, try to hide behind a concrete wall or under a layer of soil of more than one meter.

These can effectively reduce the impact of nuclear radiation.

"This is natural. This is not the first time we have built a nuclear power plant. We still have experience in this area." Li Fei said.

As a domestic professional team for building nuclear power plants, they already have a lot of experience before this.

The domestic civil nuclear power industry has experienced thirty years of development, and it is no longer the time when it didn’t understand anything.

In all aspects, a relatively standardized system has been established.
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One month later, the No. 1 nuclear power unit successfully completed relevant construction work and inspection of various supporting equipment.

The corresponding nuclear fuel rods have also completed transportation.

It is housed in a special radiation-proof box, just waiting to be inserted into a nuclear reactor.

You can start working on the nuclear reactor.

Under the faint blue water surface, pieces of dull pieces are quietly waiting for their time.

"Unit No. 1 has completed various inspections before starting up and can start trial operation."

Unlike other power plants, the trial operation and formal operation of nuclear power plants must pass the inspection of the Nuclear Safety Administration before they can be carried out.

Otherwise, it will not be able to operate.

The Nuclear Safety Administration has very strict inspections for official operations.

After the construction of a general nuclear power plant is completed, it takes 3-5 years to complete the relevant inspection work.

However, considering that a nuclear power plant has a working life of at least fifty years, such inspection time is actually nothing.

The inspection of the trial run is relatively simple.

It only took Zhang Xingyang and the others two months to obtain the license for the trial operation.

"Then let's start the first test run."

Zhang Xingyang said as he looked at the nuclear fuel rods in the monitor.

Fuel rods, which are only a few dozen centimeters long, are inserted into the nuclear reactor.

Within the pressure vessel, a high-pressure state quickly emerged.

The water flow under high pressure passes through the 690 alloy pipe and brings a large amount of heat into the heat exchanger.

The water on the other side is heated, which drives the steam turbine.

Leave aside the nuclear reactor and just look at the steam turbine part.

In fact, there is not much difference from the coal-fired power stations of a hundred years ago.

This is why it is said that the essence of human energy is to boil water.

From the beginning, wood was used to heat hot water, to the industrial era, coal and oil were used to heat hot water, and then to the atomic energy age, nuclear fuel was used to heat hot water.

There has not been much progress in the way energy is used.

However, from the perspective of energy utilization, the amount of energy used by humans is getting larger and larger.

One kilogram of dry wood can provide 1.2×10^7J of heat.

One kilogram of coal can provide 2.9×10^7J of heat.

One kilogram of oil can provide 4.4×10^7J of heat.

The gap between them is not too big.

But in the nuclear energy era, energy utilization has undergone earth-shaking changes.

Just 1g of UO2.45 nuclear fuel with an enrichment of 2% is equivalent to 50 kilograms of standard coal heat!

A nuclear power plant with an annual output of 80 billion kilowatt hours requires only 1.5 tons of nuclear fuel a year.

Equivalent to nearly one million tons of standard coal!

"The reactor of Unit 1 is operating in good condition and the output power is stable."

After several hours of testing, the first test run of the nuclear reactor was a complete success.

"What about the radioactive content of the wastewater?"

Zhang Xingyang asked Li Fei beside him.

"The radiation content complies with drinking water standards and normal discharge work can be carried out."

Li Fei said with a smile on his face.

The successful construction of a nuclear power plant is also a great honor for him.

Outside the window, inside the huge cooling tower, there are clouds formed by condensation water.

Slowly and leisurely floating up into the sky, like a cloud-making machine.

"The results of the N36 zirconium alloy strong radiation experiment have come out. This is the original data."

Su Xiao had two big dark circles on her face and handed a thick stack of data sheets into Zhang Xingyang's hands.

Even though he was used to staying up late and feeling physically and mentally exhausted, Zhang Xingyang was still shocked.

"You'd better go back and rest first. Report to me and I'll sort it out later."

Lidya Su didn't say anything more, turned around and walked towards her dormitory.

"Xiao Su, what's going on? I feel like I'm about to die." Li Fei said with some disbelief as he looked at Su Xiao who was walking away.

The two of them had met several times before, when Lidya Su just arrived.

At that time, Lidya Su left a deep impression on him.

Of course, as long as she is a woman here, she can impress everyone.

There are only a few girls in the entire nuclear power plant and nuclear research institute.

"I'm exhausted from the intense work this month."

Zhang Xingyang said while looking at the data record sheet in his hand.

The table contains raw data without a series of processing.

In terms of details, I cannot see more thoroughly.

But the general trend can still be seen relatively easily.

The more important ones are the changes in intensity and corrosion resistance under strong radiation.

Generally, pressurized water reactors or boiling water reactors pay more attention to intensity changes.

But as a heat exchange tube material for future molten salt reactors.

Zhang Xingyang pays more attention to its changes in corrosion resistance.

The data sheet clearly states that in a strong radiation environment, the tensile strength is 2100Mpa.

Compared with the previous tensile strength in a radiation-free environment, it has dropped by approximately 30Mpa.

The decrease in strength is not serious, just less than two percent.

Still within the acceptable range.

There is almost no significant change in corrosion resistance, and the alloy surface is exposed to the impact of high-temperature molten salt at high flow rates.

Neither the alloy surface film layer nor the internal structure has changed much.

This also shows that the strong radiation environment has a relatively small impact on the corrosion resistance of N36 alloy.

It is not even as great as the impact of high-temperature molten salt on alloys.

Comparative experiments on high-temperature molten salt and high-temperature water flow have been done before.

The corrosiveness of high-temperature molten salt is at least 25% higher than that of high-temperature water flow.

The impact is huge!

"Prepare to shut down. If the first trial run achieves such results, it can be considered a success."

After Zhang Xingyang read the data record sheet in his hand, he said to Li Fei beside him.

"However, today's trial operation also revealed a lot of problems, which we still need to summarize."

The first time it was run, there were some problems.

It mainly focuses on personnel operations.

The first batch of workers they trained were not very skilled.

During the work process, although no errors occurred, the response was very slow.

In fact, the reactor was supposed to start operating at 9 o'clock.

It was also delayed by fifteen minutes.

It's because the operators are not familiar with their own work processes.

Li Fei nodded, "I also have my reasons for this, I will let them retrain again!" (End of Chapter)