(Yicai Global) Sept. 15 -- China Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Co., an affiliate of State Nuclear Power Technology Co., has successfully developed its first digital instrumentation and control (I&C) system for nuclear power plants with complete proprietary intellectual property rights and international market entry qualifications, state-owned news agency Xinhua reported.

The development breaks a longstanding monopoly enjoyed by prominent international nuclear companies in the field.

Digital I&C systems are considered the nerve center of nuclear power plants, controlling tens of thousands of nerve terminals and monitoring each device operation. They are used in emergency situations, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, in order to halt reactor operations immediately. Every nuclear powerhouse has looked to develop its own digital I&C systems, though only four countries, including China, have achieved this goal.

The project, known as Digital I&C System for CAP1400 Nuclear Power Plants is the first such system to adopt programmable gate array technology and also pass certification reviews in China and the US. This allows Chinese nuclear power technology access to the global, European and American markets.

The system will be fully utilized in the CAP1400 demonstrative power stations, and in the future, it will fully replace imported equipment and used in the newly-built CAP1000 and CAP1400 power stations in the country.

This product can also be used in industrial control fields that have high security and reliability requirements, such as heavy-duty gas turbines, large thermal power generating units, smart power grids, wind electricity, and rail transit.