ASTRID (reactor)

ASTRID
Country France
Location Marcoule Nuclear Site
Coordinates 44°08′34″N 4°42′32″E / 44.14278°N 4.70889°E / 44.14278; 4.70889Coordinates: 44°08′34″N 4°42′32″E / 44.14278°N 4.70889°E / 44.14278; 4.70889
Status Project
Operator(s) CEA
Nuclear power station
Reactor type SFR
Power generation
Units planned 1 x 600 MW

ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration) is a 600 MW sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor (Generation IV) project, proposed by the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA). It is proposed to be built on the Marcoule Nuclear Site in France. It is the successor of the three French fast reactors Rapsodie, Phénix and Superphénix. A final decision on construction is to be made in 2019.

The main goals of ASTRID are the multi-recycling of plutonium, aiming at preserving natural uranium resources, minor actinide transmutation, aiming at reducing nuclear waste, and an enhanced safety comparable to Generation III reactors, such as the EPR. It is envisaged as a 600 MW industrial prototype connected to the grid. A commercial series of 1500 MW SFR reactors is planned to be deployed around 2050.[1]

As of 2012, the project involves 500 people, with almost half among industrial partners. Those include Électricité de France, Areva, Alstom Power Systems, Comex Nucléaire, Jacobs France, Toshiba and Bouygues Construction.[2]

In 2014 Japan agreed to cooperate in developing the emergency reactor cooling system, and in a few other areas.[3][4] As of 2016, France was seeking the full involvement of Japan in ASTRID development.[4][5]

If a decision is made to proceed with construction, ASTRID is expected to start operating in the 2030s.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Fast Neutron Reactors". World Nuclear Association. 5 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Le CEA et Bouygues Construction signent un accord de collaboration pour la conception d'ASTRID, prototype de réacteur nucléaire de 4ème génération". CEA. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  3. ↑ Tara Patel, Gregory Viscusi (5 May 2014). "Japan to Work With France on Future Fast-Breeder Atomic". Bloomberg. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 "France wants Japan to share 570 billion yen ASTRID reactor development cost". The Mainichi. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Ministries spar as Japan focuses on fast reactor project in France". Asahi Shimbun. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.


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