Phénix

<p>Phénix (French for phoenix) was a small-scale (gross 264/net 233 MWe) prototype <a href="/facts/Fast_breeder_reactor/jt0VeXUa">fast breeder reactor</a>, located at the <a href="/facts/Marcoule/46gWjffp">Marcoule</a> nuclear site, near <a href="/facts/Orange%2c_France/xlKnXJ8F">Orange, France</a>.  It was a <a href="/facts/Pool_type_LMFBR/4F7zMYRJ">pool-type liquid-metal fast breeder reactor</a> cooled with liquid <a href="/facts/Sodium/eYuSPu2V">sodium</a>.  It generated 590 MW of thermal power, and had a breeding ratio of 1.16 (16% more <a href="/facts/Plutonium/4bUw9zH3">plutonium</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Superph%25C3%25A9nix/pzz6p2Ub">Superphénix</a> in 1997. After 2004, its main use was investigation of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_transmutation/MjlvjsV6">transmutation</a> of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_waste/MjYh5tlu">nuclear waste</a> while also generating some electricity. Phénix was shut down in 2009.
</p><p>The <a href="/facts/Nuclear_decommissioning/Wy8y2y9d">decommissioning project</a> 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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Phénix open-in-new

Phénix