---
title: "China launches the world's first pure helium turbine: a breakthrough for nuclear energy"
description: "China has made a breakthrough in nuclear energy: for the first time, a megawatt turbine on pure helium has been launched. CNNC Huaxing engineers overcame the most complex challenges of hermeticity and vibrations, paving the way for the creation of next-generation reactors. 🇨🇳⚛️🚀"
date: 2026-07-31T20:34:36.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/china-launches-the-worlds-first-pure-helium-turbine
tags: [cnncc, nuclear-energy, helium-turbine, china, gas-cooled-reactor]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# China launches the world's first pure helium turbine: a breakthrough for nuclear energy

![Industrial helium turbine in China — world's first breakthrough for nuclear energy](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/31/kitaj-zapuskaet-pervuyu-turbinu-na-chistom-gelii/kitaj-zapuskaet-pervuyu-turbinu-na-chistom-gelii-1.webp)

China has successfully completed tests on a unique energy installation: for the first time in history, engineers have managed to generate electricity using a megawatt turbine operating exclusively on pure helium. The development and launch of this system were carried out by CNNC Huaxing, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

This experimental launch marked a turning point in the development of technologies for next-generation high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. Previously, engineers had tested individual components, but now the technology has proven its ability to fully generate energy under real-world conditions.

### Closed cycle instead of steam

The operating principle of the new installation differs radically from traditional power plants. While conventional turbines are driven by steam or operate in an open gas cycle, the Chinese development uses a completely closed loop. Inside the hermetic system, helium circulates continuously, never leaving the limits of the installation.

This scheme provides a number of critically important advantages:

- Minimization of heat loss due to the absence of phase transitions.

- Maintenance of stable pressure in the system.

- Significant increase in overall energy conversion efficiency.

### Why helium?

The choice of an inert gas as the working fluid is dictated by its unique physical properties. Helium does not enter into chemical reactions with structural materials even at extremely high temperatures, which allows for effective heat removal from the reactor core. When heated, the gas expands rapidly, driving the turbine with minimal energy loss.

However, implementing this idea required solving the most complex engineering challenges. Helium atoms are incredibly small and capable of penetrating microscopic defects and cracks. This placed a requirement for absolute hermeticity on the engineers: all pipelines, seals, and connections had to withstand high pressure without the slightest leak.

### Precision to the micron

In addition to hermeticity, developers had to overcome the problem of vibrations. When assembling a high-speed turbine, micron-level precision in component installation was required. Even minimal deviations could cause resonant vibrations, compromising the integrity of the loop and stopping the operation of the installation. The success of the tests confirmed that Chinese engineers managed to cope with these challenges.

CNNC notes that the data obtained will serve as the foundation for further development of promising high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. This technology is considered one of the key directions in the development of future small-scale nuclear energy.