We develop and promote a Small Modular Reactor (SMR), the BWRX-300 that solve future energy problems by the international cooperation such as our partner company GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
The small modular reactor get attention as a next-generation nuclear reactor, and make it possible to restrain construction and power generation costs while maintaining safety, which also lead to strengthening market competitiveness.
Hitachi carried out international joint development of ABWR with excellent safety, operability and economy, and played a major role in the design and construction of Tepco reactors 6 and 7, which are the first ABWR at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. Thereafter, Hitachi completed Chubu Electric Hamaoka Reactor No. 5 and Hokuriku Electric Shiga Reactor No. 2 and is currently working on the construction of Chugoku Electric Power Co. Shimane Reactor No. 3 and J-POWER Oma Reactor No. 1, and Tepco HD Higashidori Reactor No.1. We are aiming to increase the speed of construction technology based on optimization and standardization of design as well as Hitachifs wealth of experience in the field.
Since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011, BWR nuclear power plants in Japan have been shut down and are required to comply with new regulatory requirements to restart. Hitachi helps BWR to restart quickly through support for review of the new regulatory requirements, technology development and upgrading of safety enhancement equipment. In addition, Hitachi carried out international joint development of ABWR with excellent safety, operability, and economy, and has constructed Tepco reactors 6 and 7, which are the first ABWR at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant as well as Chubu Electric Hamaoka Reactor No. 5 and Hokuriku Electric Shiga Reactor No. 2. We are currently working on the construction of Chugoku Electric Power Co. Shimane Reactor No. 3, J-POWER Oma Reactor No. 1, and Tepco HD Higashidori Reactor No.1 using advanced construction technology based on optimization and standardization of design as well as Hitachi's wealth of experience in the field.
In order to respond to the needs of countries where nuclear power generation is being introduced and new facilities are being constructed, we are developing large light-water reactors with improved safety, operability and economic efficiency based on ABWR, small-to-medium reactors (BWRX-300, PRISM, etc.) providing flexible configurations suited to location-specific or regional characteristics, and high-performance next-generation light-water reactors (HP-ABWR) with excellent safety. We are also developing light-water-cooled fast reactors (RBWR), which enables the reuse of transuranium elements (TRU) such as plutonium and minor actinides (MA) as fuel in a water-cooled reactor.
One of the technical issues facing completion of decommissioning for Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is to implement retrieval of nuclear fuel remaining inside the reactor building. Various techniques are considered in order to carry out work such as inspection, decontamination, repair and environmental maintenance of structures inside the reactor building, which is necessary for retrieval of nuclear fuel. Going forwards, we will continue to steadily develop remote-controlled robots and will contribute to ensuring that decommissioning for Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station are completed as quickly as possible.
All power plants, including nuclear power and thermal power plants, are composed of mechanical equipment and parts such as heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, diesel engines, pipes and valves, etc. Nuclear reactor pressure vessels unique to nuclear power plants feature machinery for separating/drying steam and mechanisms for control rods insertion for controlling nuclear reaction.
These consist of a wide range of technologies including the 4 dynamics (machinery, material, fluid, thermal), vibration engineering, mechanical elements, fabrication, measurement and control, etc.
Nuclear power plants use countless mechatronics products that are automatically/ remotely operated with the aim of labor-saving in periodic inspections, inspecting and repairing the nuclear reactor itself and associated machinery, and reducing workersf exposure to radiation. In the development and design of inspection robots for fuel treatment equipment, control rod driving mechanism exchange equipment, and the inside of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, etc., we leverage knowledge of mechanical engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, and material engineering, etc., and Hitachi-manufactured products are playing an active role in nuclear power plants.
Based on foundation technology and the latest expertise from Japan and abroad, we propose optimum material configurations and management of water chemistry for nuclear power plant-wide design and issues, and contribute to the realization of highly reliable, highly economical plants. We are also actively cooperating with research institutions that study materials / technologies of water chemistry for nuclear power plant for data expansion and theoretical proof, etc. In recent years, we have been studying the introduction of noble metal injection into the primary cooling water of reactors in operation for the first time in Japan, and are working to maintain the integrity of the plant.
Measurement control technology contributes to power plant safety and high-efficiency operation by appropriate configuration of sensors, transmission lines and control systems, that can be likened to the cranial nerve systems.
Also, the operation of the great variety of machinery at power plants requires electric power, and construction of electric power systems within power plants is also an important design task. In this field of "connecting" technologies, engineers from a wide range of fields - not only nuclear power, but also information, controls, electricity, and human engineering - play active roles by cooperating together.
The nuclear energy business requires a lot of expertise. In addition to the technical fields mentioned above, there are fields that utilize a wide range of expertise such as nuclear power, physics, construction, civil engineering, engineering management and industrial engineering. We are looking forward to receiving your job application.
