Phénix

Phénix (French for phoenix) was a small-scale (gross 264/net 233 MWe) prototype fast breeder reactor, located at the Marcoule nuclear site, near Orange, France. It was a pool-type liquid-metal fast breeder reactor cooled with liquid sodium. It generated 590 MW of thermal power, and had a breeding ratio of 1.16 (16% more plutonium produced than consumed), but normally had to be stopped for refueling operations every two months. Phénix continued operating after the closure of the subsequent full-scale prototype Superphénix in 1997. After 2004, its main use was investigation of transmutation of nuclear waste while also generating some electricity. Phénix was shut down in 2009.

Phénix
Official name
  • Phénix
CountryFrance
LocationMarcoule
Coordinates44°08′36″N 4°42′42″E
StatusClosed
Construction began1968
Commission date13 December 1973 (1973-12-13)
Decommission date1 February 2010 (2010-02-01)
Operator(s)CEA
EDF
Nuclear power station
Reactor typeFBR
Reactor supplierCEM
Cooling source
Power generation
Make and modelCEM
Units decommissioned1 x 250 MW
Nameplate capacity250 MW
Capacity factor27.0%
Annual net output591 GW·h

The decommissioning project started in 2005. Between 2009 and 2011, the non-nuclear equipment and turbine hall were dismantled. The decommissioning license was expected for 2015. Finalising of the decommissioning process is expected between 2031 and 2043.

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