The Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Drive is a critical single-point-of-failure electrical equipment in the third-generation AP1000 nuclear power plant. In 2022, Shandong Nuclear Power Company Ltd., Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute, and Shanghai Nancal Electric Co., Ltd. initiated a collaboration and successfully developed an RCP Drive for the third-generation AP1000 nuclear power plant in 2023. This significantly enhances the operational reliability of the RCP Drives and the flexibility of standby RCP Drive switching, further improving the operational reliability and economic efficiency of AP1000 nuclear power units.
Shanghai Nancal Electric Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Shandong Nuclear Power Company Ltd. (SDNP) and Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute (SNERDI), has been honored with the Second Prize for Science and Technology Progress by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) for the joint project "Localized R&D and Application of Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Drives." The project team successfully developed China's First MV Drive for the Generation III AP1000 Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Coolant Pump with fully independent intellectual property, achieving a breakthrough in core technology localization. This accomplishment is of significant importance for enhancing the safety and reliability of nuclear power. The RCP Drive has been deployed for commercial operation and was included in the National Energy Administration's List of Major Technical Equipment in the Energy Sector in 2024.
The full localization replacement of the Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Drives for Unit 2 of SPIC's Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant has been successfully completed, adopting a configuration of “4-operation and 1-standby”. The unit was successfully reconnected to the grid on its first attempt. These RCP Drives were jointly developed by Shandong Nuclear Power Company Ltd. (SDNP), Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute (SNERDI), and Shanghai Nancal Electric Co., Ltd.
The National Energy Administration officially added the "Non-Energy Three-Generation Nuclear Power Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Drive" to its list of major technical equipment in the energy sector. The Non-Energy Three-Generation Nuclear Power AP1000 RCP drive serves as the sole power supply for the motor. Its reliable operation is crucial to the stability, availability, and overall performance of the nuclear power plant. To address the supply chain bottleneck in this critical equipment, Shanghai Nancal Electric, Shandong Nuclear Power and Shanghai nuclear engineering R&D institute collaboratively developed a 10 kV/ 50 Hz input, 6.9 kV/ 60 Hz output, 10,500 kVA rated capacity reactor coolant pump drive. Beyond the energy sector, Nancal has also made significant "first set" strides in industries such as chemicals, mining, and energy storage.