Nuclear Helium Isolation Valves: A Chinese Maker Moves into Batch Delivery for High-Temperature Reactors
Nuclear-grade helium isolation valves developed by SUFA with Tsinghua University have entered batch delivery for two high-temperature gas-cooled reactor projects, after an appraisal found the design free of foreign dependence.
Lead
Nuclear-grade helium isolation valves jointly developed by SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC and Tsinghua University have entered batch delivery for two high-temperature gas-cooled reactor projects, the China General Machinery Industry Association reported.
Facts
The delivery. The valves are moving into batch delivery for two high-temperature gas-cooled reactor projects; the first batch has completed pre-shipment tests including shell strength tests. (Source: the China General Machinery Industry Association, October 2026.)
The duty. The valve is described as a key pressure-retaining component on the reactor's helium circuit, opening and closing the helium path; helium's small, highly penetrating molecule makes sealing performance decisive for reactor safety and economics. (Source: the same; also the Suzhou Daily via the Suzhou High-Tech Zone government site.)
The development record. Development ran under a national science and technology major project from 2019, completing its tasks in December 2022. The programme built five seal-structure test pieces, each subjected to nearly 3,000 operating-cycle life tests. An appraisal organised by the China Machinery Industry Federation concluded the design has fully independent intellectual property, fills a domestic gap, and reaches an internationally advanced level — the appraisers' conclusion, as reported. The maker obtained the nuclear-valve design and manufacturing licence in 2025 and states it has signed multiple supply contracts. (Sources: the association; the company's own account carried on its WeChat channel.)
The import-substitution context. The coverage states the valves had long been procured from overseas, with high prices and long lead times. (Source: the same.)
Where this connects on this site
- Where an isolation valve's family choice comes before anything else: Ball vs Gate vs Globe Valves: The Three-Way Comparison
- The order the inputs are read in — function first, class second, material third: Valve Selection Guide: From Function to Class to Material
- The selector: industrialvalveselect.com
Sources
| # | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Batch delivery entering two HTGR projects; the first batch's pre-shipment shell-strength testing; the valve's role on the helium circuit; the 2019–2022 development under the national major project; five seal-structure test pieces at nearly 3,000 cycles each; the CMIF appraisal conclusion; the 2025 design and manufacturing licence; multiple signed supply contracts | 中国通用机械工业协会, 2026-10 — https://www.cgmia.org.cn/Web/News/Detail/26458 |
| 2 | The workshop account and the import-substitution background | 苏州日报（经苏州高新区管委会网站刊发）, 2026-09-29 — http://www.snd.gov.cn/hqqrmzf/cmjj/202610/2fe0ad3de72e470b9651efe53fd76d5e.shtml |
Note on sourcing. This item reports an industry association's account of a manufacturer's delivery milestone, with a local newspaper's workshop report. We record the verifiable layer — the delivery phase, the test record and the licence. Appraisal conclusions are reported as the appraisers', and we do not rank or recommend suppliers.
What the source does not state
The reports do not state the number of valves under contract, their sizes, pressure classes or leakage-rate figures, the projects' names, the delivery schedule, or contract values.
Update note
This item is a dated record of a publicly reported delivery milestone. We append corrections rather than rewrite history; corrections are marked Correction with the date.