China National Nuclear Corporation and Tsinghua University jointly developed nuclear-grade helium isolation valves

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China Nuclear Su Valve Technology Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “China Nuclear Technology”) jointly developed a nuclear-grade helium isolation valve with Tsinghua University, and the results of this development were approved. This achievement marks China’s attainment of self-sufficiency in the field of core equipment for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, successfully overcoming the long-standing problem of relying on imports for nuclear-grade helium valves. The nuclear-grade helium isolation valve is a key pressure-bearing device in the helium circuit of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, primarily used to control the flow and isolation of helium. Its sealing performance is directly related to the safe operation and economic efficiency of the reactor. As a core device with wide application and large scale, it is indispensable in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. For a long time, the nuclear-grade helium isolation valves used in China’s high-temperature gas-cooled reactor projects have relied on imports from abroad, resulting in issues such as high costs, long lead times, and delayed maintenance, which have hindered the independent development of China’s high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology. To break this deadlock, CNNC and Tsinghua University jointly submitted a **major scientific and technological project in 2019, officially launching the development of domestically produced nuclear-grade helium isolation valves. After three years of intensive technical efforts, the project team successfully completed all development tasks in December 2022 and passed the expert evaluation of the results. The expert panel unanimously agreed that our company’s achievements possess full independent intellectual property rights, fill a gap in domestic research, and have performance metrics that are at the international leading level. On this basis, CNNC Technology has continued to advance the engineering application of its products, and by 2025 it successfully obtained design and manufacturing licenses issued by the regulatory authorities, laying a solid foundation for the delivery of subsequent project orders. Currently, China National Nuclear Technology Corporation has successfully signed contracts for the supply of nuclear-grade helium isolation valves, indicating that this product has been put into practical use and has entered the stage of mass delivery. This not only brings good economic benefits to enterprises, but also provides strong support for the autonomous development and industrialization of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology in our country. The successful development of these nuclear-grade helium isolation valves represents a significant breakthrough in China’s independent innovation in the field of nuclear-grade equipment. It demonstrates the strong synergy that can be achieved through collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions, and it provides strong impetus for advancing China’s high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology to the forefront of the world.