In the global wave of energy transition, nuclear power, as a clean, efficient, and stable baseload energy source, is playing an increasingly important role. In the vast and sophisticated systems of nuclear power plants, every valve actuator is critical to the safe and stable operation of the entire plant. In 2024, Yangzhou Hengchun Electronics Co., Ltd. officially obtained the "Civil Nuclear Safety Equipment Design and Manufacturing License" issued by the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), marking a milestone step for Hengchun Electronics in the nuclear power sector.
The Civil Nuclear Safety Equipment Design and Manufacturing License is the "entry pass" to the nuclear power equipment manufacturing industry, and it represents comprehensive recognition of an enterprise's technical strength, quality management system, and safety assurance capabilities. The NNSA has extremely strict access standards and continuous regulatory requirements for licensed units — from design capability, manufacturing processes, inspection and testing to personnel qualifications and quality systems, every link must meet the stringent requirements of nuclear safety levels.
In 2024, relying on years of technical accumulation and a strict quality management system, Hengchun Electronics successfully passed the NNSA review and obtained the Civil Nuclear Safety Equipment Design and Manufacturing License, becoming one of the few domestic enterprises with the qualification for nuclear power valve actuator design and manufacturing. This is not only recognition of Hengchun Electronics' technical strength but also an authoritative endorsement of the safety and reliability of Hengchun products.
Before obtaining the official qualification, Hengchun Electronics' valve actuators had already accumulated rich operational experience in the nuclear power field. To date, thousands of Hengchun actuators have been operating stably in multiple domestic nuclear power plants, covering various systems such as the Conventional Island (CI) and Balance of Plant (BOP).
From coastal nuclear power bases to inland nuclear power plants, from second-generation improved units to third-generation advanced models, Hengchun actuators have won the trust of nuclear power owners and EPC contractors with stable performance and reliable quality. The stable operation of each piece of equipment is the best proof of Hengchun Electronics' commitment to nuclear safety.
In the field of nuclear power valve actuators, spring return technology has long been a core technical difficulty, monopolized by foreign brands for a long time. With its self-developed spring return actuator, Hengchun Electronics has successfully broken this technological monopoly and achieved import substitution.
A spring return actuator is a safety-class passive electric valve drive device. During normal operation, it drives the valve to open and close through a motor and mechanical transmission mechanism, while tightening the internal spring to store energy. When the system loses power due to an accident, without any external energy supply, it can use the energy stored in the spring to drive the valve to a safe position (fully open or fully closed), ensuring system safety.
· Passive Safety: Automatic reset on power loss, no external power required, inherently safe and reliable
· Precise Control: High-precision position feedback and control algorithms ensure accurate valve operation
· Long-Life Design: Core components undergo rigorous life testing to meet long-cycle nuclear power operation requirements
· Localized & Self-Controllable: With fully independent intellectual property rights, 摆脱 dependence on imported brands
Currently, Hengchun spring return actuators have been successfully applied in multiple nuclear power projects, replacing original imported brands. This not only significantly reduces procurement costs but also achieves self-controllability of key equipment, contributing Hengchun's strength to the localization of nuclear power equipment.
Nuclear power plant systems are vast and complex, with extremely rich application scenarios for valve actuators. Hengchun actuators have wide applications in the Conventional Island (CI) and Balance of Plant (BOP) systems of nuclear power plants:
· Turbine Bypass System Valves: Steam bypass control during turbine start-stop and accident conditions
· Condensate System Valves: Fluid control in condensate transport and treatment systems
· Feedwater System Valves: Flow regulation and shut-off for steam generator feedwater systems
· Circulating Water System Valves: Shut-off and regulation of circulating cooling water systems
· Extraction Steam System Valves: Control and isolation of turbine extraction steam systems
· Drain System Valves: Reliable control of system drains
· Lubricating Oil System Valves: Safety control of turbine oil systems
· Circulating Water Pump House Valves: Control of circulating water intake and delivery systems
· Compressed Air System Valves: Pressure and flow control for plant compressed air systems
· Fire Water System Valves: Reliable control of nuclear power plant fire protection systems
· Ventilation & HVAC System Valves/Dampers: Air volume regulation for plant ventilation and air conditioning systems
· Water Treatment System Valves: Fluid control for demineralized water, circulating water treatment, and other systems
· Liquid Waste Treatment System Valves: Safety control of radioactive liquid waste treatment systems
· Chemical Dosing System Valves: Precise dosing control of water treatment chemicals
· Plant Utility System Valves: Various utility system valves in auxiliary buildings
Hengchun actuators can be adapted to various types of valves commonly used in nuclear power plants:
· Gate valves, globe valves, check valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, diaphragm valves, control valves, etc.
· Multi-turn, part-turn, linear stroke, and other drive forms
· On-off type, regulating type, spring return type, and other functional configurations
Nuclear safety is of paramount importance. From the first product entering the nuclear power field, to obtaining NNSA qualification certification, to achieving import substitution with spring return technology, Hengchun Electronics has always taken "safety first, quality first" as its core philosophy, continuously polishing products and improving technology.
The stable operation of thousands of units is the market's recognition of Hengchun; the NNSA qualification certification is the authority's affirmation of Hengchun. Looking ahead, Hengchun Electronics will continue to deepen its presence in the nuclear power field, continuously invest in R&D and innovation, contribute more to the localization of China's nuclear power equipment, and grow together with China's nuclear power industry.
