Since the start of the Chinese New Year on January 29, China First Heavy Industries (CFHI), located in the industrial hub of Qiqihar in northeast China, has already ramped up its operations, with the world's largest 700-ton nuclear power rotor just being forged.
Despite the freezing temperatures outside, forging operations at a CFHI workshop is in full swing with heat radiating from the furnace. The world's largest mass-produced steel ingot was slowly emerging from the furnace towering over 20 meters high, reaching a blistering 1,200 degrees Celsius. This massive piece will be manufactured into one of the most critical components of nuclear power units -- the rotor.
Its manufacturing complexity lies in the overall forging process. The steel ingot required for this part is the largest in size, with the heaviest billet and the biggest cross-section size. The technical standards for this process are extremely demanding. The pre-forging heating alone requires temperatures of over 1,200 degrees and takes three days to complete. After coming out of the furnace, the piece is subjected to the immense pressure of a 15,000-ton forging press, repeatedly squeezed like dough to ensure the internal and external materials meet all performance standards.
"Its large size isn't just about its weight and shape. More importantly, it's about the internal quality. It's like kneading dough -- achieving consistency from the inside out is a challenging task. The CFHI has fully mastered this technique now," said Wang Lizhong, director of casting technology workshop at CFHI Steel Casting and Forging Department.
Currently, only two companies worldwide can produce such giant nuclear equipment. The breakthrough in key technology has led to an influx of orders, with production lines running full throttle to keep up with the demands.
"This product is in short supply. Our orders are already scheduled until 2027. In the new year so far, we have kept receiving quite enough orders. Since the beginning of February, we've already produced over 3,000 tons of forged parts, setting a new record," said Ge Shuyi, director of the Production Management Department at CFHI.
Thanks to management improvements and process optimizations, the forging cycle for these products has been shortened from 45 days to about 30 days, boosting efficiency by 30 percent and significantly lowering costs.
The rough billets will then be processed for primary shaping. Now the CFHI can produce eight rotors per year, the largest capacity globally, according to Ge.
Chinese heavy industry giant produces world’s largest nuclear power unit motor
Chinese heavy industry giant produces world’s largest nuclear power unit motor
