State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation — Nuclear Main Pump Bearing Development Project

The nuclear main pump is currently a key technology for the development of nuclear power in China and is often referred to as the "heart" of a nuclear power plant. The critical component of the nuclear main pump lies in its bearings. Currently, almost all main pumps used in operational nuclear power plants in China rely on imported technology. For a long time, both domestic and international nuclear power plants have used bearings made of graphite materials for their nuclear main pumps. However, graphite is a brittle material with poor impact resistance. Under conditions of significant shock loads and alternating loads, the bearing material is prone to fracture, severely compromising the safe operation of the nuclear main pump.

At the end of 2014, in response to the needs of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation and the unit responsible for the nuclear main pump project, SHCM undertook the research and development of the integrated water-lubricated bearings for the nuclear main pump in the CAP1400 (third-generation nuclear power) National Nuclear Demonstration Project.

The independent design, manufacturing, and testing verification of these bearings represent a major focus and challenge in advancing the localization of nuclear power technology in China. The nuclear main pump bearings independently developed by SHCM have filled a domestic technological gap. After more than a year of dedicated efforts, SHCM successfully developed:

— High-performance water-lubricated composite thrust bearings for nuclear main pumps, which replace traditional graphite bearings through material innovation, structural design optimization, and process advancements. These products exhibit excellent performance in terms of water lubrication, nuclear radiation resistance, wear resistance, and high-temperature tolerance. Tests conducted on simulation platforms mimicking real operating conditions have proven that the bearings fully meet the technical requirements of the client.

This project has filled the gap in the global market for nuclear main pump bearings with an integrated composite material structure. It has played a critical role in advancing the localization of nuclear main pump technology and has earned high recognition from the client.