Phénix

Phénix is a nuclear reactor that was operational in France from 1973 to 2009. It was a fast breeder reactor, a type of reactor designed to produce more fissile material than it consumes, thus "breeding" fuel. Phénix was part of the French government's long-term strategy for energy independence, which included the development of a closed nuclear fuel cycle where spent fuel would be reprocessed and reused.

History

Phénix was constructed in the early 1970s as part of a French government initiative to develop a nuclear power industry that could provide the country with a reliable and independent source of energy. The reactor was designed and built by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), and it began operation in 1973.

Over its 36 years of operation, Phénix produced a significant amount of electricity for the French grid and contributed to the development of the country's nuclear industry. The reactor was also used for research purposes, particularly in the field of nuclear transmutation, a process that can reduce the volume and toxicity of nuclear waste.

Phénix was shut down in 2009, and it is currently in the process of being decommissioned. The lessons learned from its operation have been used in the design of the Astrid project, a new generation of fast breeder reactors.

Design and operation

Phénix was a sodium-cooled fast reactor, a type of fast breeder reactor that uses liquid sodium as a coolant. This design allows the reactor to operate at high temperatures and makes it possible to use a wide range of fuels, including plutonium and minor actinides.

The reactor had a thermal power of 590 MW and an electrical power of 233 MW. It used a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which is a blend of plutonium and natural or depleted uranium. The fuel was arranged in a core surrounded by a blanket of fertile material, which could be converted into fissile material by the neutrons produced in the core.

Legacy

The operation of Phénix provided valuable experience and data for the French nuclear industry. It demonstrated the feasibility of fast breeder reactors and contributed to the development of the closed nuclear fuel cycle in France. The lessons learned from Phénix have been used in the design of the Astrid project, which aims to develop a new generation of fast breeder reactors.

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