On April 8th, witnessed by eight experts from China First Heavy Industries Corporation Limited, as well as its North China Station, Nuclear Safety Center, Shenyang Blower Group, and Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute, Hebei Honrun Nuclear Equipment Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (Honrun Nuclear Equipment), a leading innovative enterprise in Hebei Province, demonstrated the power of its 50,000-ton vertical extrusion press. After five years of investment and 10 million yuan in tooling and molds, the research and development of a million-kilowatt nuclear power stainless steel main pump casing was successfully completed using hot-die extrusion, building upon previous trial products.

The full-pressure stress die forging of a million-kilowatt nuclear power pump casing represents advanced manufacturing and signifies another technological advancement in the quality of China's nuclear power main pump casing products. The successful development of the million-kilowatt nuclear power stainless steel die-forged pump casing not only solves the international challenge of cast pump casings failing to meet technical requirements, but also replaces the manufacturing technology of alloy steel forged pump casings with inner wall cladding of stainless steel.

"The use of austenitic stainless steel forging and extrusion to manufacture nuclear power main pump casings, replacing traditional cast casings, is a revolutionary innovation of epoch-making significance." Experts lauded the power of Honrun's super-equipment. The nuclear main pump casing is known as the "heart component of a nuclear power plant." Its forging and extrusion technology is an upgrade of the original casting technology. Honrun's super-equipment is the only equipment in the world capable of extruding this product, signifying that China's manufacturing technology for large nuclear power forgings has reached the internationally leading level.

Leveraging the 50,000-ton vertical extrusion press—the world's largest press in terms of extrusion force, largest opening size, and work platform—Honrun has revolutionarily achieved one-time extrusion forming of complex pipeline products such as nuclear power main pump casings, nuclear power main pipelines, inclined three-ways, and valve bodies, bringing the service life, reliability, and economy of these critical nuclear power products to a new level.

In the view of many experts, Honrun's super-equipment can achieve extrusion forming of large-diameter seamless steel pipes and parts from high-alloy steel, heat-resistant steel, and other difficult-to-form materials. It can also achieve die forging of various material forgings. When used with special molds, it can also achieve inner high-pressure forming of shaped pipe fittings. Honrun's entire production line has formed a group of large forging and extrusion equipment represented by the 50,000-ton large hydraulic press. Combined with other auxiliary equipment, it has become a major base for the production of large high-performance parts for forging worldwide.

Author: Feng Yijun

Editor: Wang Ping

Proofreader: Gao Huijun