This "conductor" can calm down a runaway nuclear reactor...

At Tsinghua University

There is a mysterious code that is widely circulated

"No. 200"

"No. 200" is actually at the foot of Yanshan Mountain

Tsinghua University Institute of Nuclear Energy and New Energy Technology

At the Tsinghua University Science Museum

Contains a safety rod drive mechanism

It was donated by Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

It was installed in the first independently designed and built

Nuclear test reactor

The safety rod drive mechanism is a motion device

It's like a "conductor"

Waving the "baton"

Let the safety rod made of special materials absorb neutrons

Play the role of emergency shutdown and nuclear leakage prevention

The safety rod drive mechanism of the "No. 200" nuclear reactor. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University Science Museum

1950s

The international security situation is becoming increasingly severe

The Party Central Committee made a strategic decision

We must develop the atomic energy industry of New China

1958

Teachers and students from the Department of Engineering Physics at Tsinghua University

Decided to establish

my country's first independently designed, commissioned and operated nuclear reactor

The infrastructure project number is "No. 200"

The average age of the "No. 200" team members is only twenty-three and a half years old

This is the origin of "23-year-old semi-legend"

A group photo of the builders at the start of construction of the No. 200 Atomic Energy Research Base. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

Tsinghua teachers and students

When construction of this nuclear reactor began

Lack of people, money and technology

I don't know where to start

We first built a model using horse manure cardboard.

They started with this horse manure paper model

With dozens of hand-cranked computers

Overcoming difficulties step by step

It took 6 years

Finally in 1964 it was built

Shielded Nuclear Reactor Test Reactor

Many indicators exceed the level of original foreign reference designs

Just won the highest national science and technology award

Academician Wang Dazhong

He was one of the builders of this reactor.

Academician Wang Dazhong, winner of the National Highest Science and Technology Award. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

In the safe operation of the reactor

Safety rod is one of the most critical equipment

It can be said to be the "brake"

Shielding test reactor core. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

The exterior view of the shielded test reactor that was just built in 1964. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

The shielded test reactor built in 1964

Then to the low temperature nuclear heating reactor in 1989

High Temperature Gas-Cooled Experimental Reactor in 2000

Reactor safety performance continues to rise

From passive safety to active safety

Academician Wang Dazhong

Low Temperature Nuclear Heating Reactor

and the host of the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Experimental Reactor

The exterior view of the 5MW low-temperature nuclear heating experimental reactor. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

The exterior view of the 10MW high-temperature gas-cooled experimental reactor. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua Nuclear Research Institute

today

There are more than 50 nuclear power units in operation in mainland my country

They all have extremely high security

Small safety rods on Tsinghua shielded test reactor

It is the starting point of my country's nuclear industry safety.

Source: Science and Technology Daily