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The use and evolution of the CEA research reactors; Utilisation et evolution des reacteurs de recherche du C.E.A

Abstract

The authors successively examine the different research reactors in use in the French C.E.A. Nuclear Centres. They trace briefly their histories, describing how they have been used up to the present, and how they have been adapted to changes in programme by means of certain modifications. They also describe the reasons which have led to the elaboration of the project for the new reactor Osiris. Zoe, the oldest reactor in the CEA, has been in service in the Centre de Fontenay-aux-Roses since 1948. It is used mainly for measurements of absorption cross-sections in graphite, and for various short irradiations which do not require high fluxes. The reactor EL 2, in service since 1952, was used for the first studies on gas cooling. It has also been widely used for the production of radioisotopes and for a large number of experiments in the fields of physics, metallurgy and physical chemistry. The ageing of certain elements of the reactor has led to the decision to close it down in the near future The reactor EL 3 has been widely used for experiments in physics and in the investigation of fuels. The possibilities of the reactor in fast neutron irradiations will be considerably  More>>
Authors:
Rossillon, F; Chauvez, C [1] 
  1. Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1964
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
CEA-R-2696
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; EL-1 REACTOR; EL-2 REACTOR; EL-3 REACTOR; EXPERIMENTAL CHANNELS; FAST NEUTRONS; IN PILE LOOPS; IRRADIATION DEVICES; IRRADIATION PROCEDURES; MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT; MELUSINE-1 REACTOR; NEUTRON FLUX; OSIRIS REACTOR; PEGASE REACTOR; SILOE REACTOR; SPECIFICATIONS; STANDARDIZATION; THERMAL NEUTRONS; TRITON REACTOR
OSTI ID:
20668389
Research Organizations:
CEA Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France); CEA Grenoble, 38 (France)
Country of Origin:
France
Language:
French
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: FR05R2696107090
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
FRN
Size:
24 pages
Announcement Date:
Dec 19, 2005

Citation Formats

Rossillon, F, and Chauvez, C. The use and evolution of the CEA research reactors; Utilisation et evolution des reacteurs de recherche du C.E.A. France: N. p., 1964. Web.
Rossillon, F, & Chauvez, C. The use and evolution of the CEA research reactors; Utilisation et evolution des reacteurs de recherche du C.E.A. France.
Rossillon, F, and Chauvez, C. 1964. "The use and evolution of the CEA research reactors; Utilisation et evolution des reacteurs de recherche du C.E.A." France.
@misc{etde_20668389,
title = {The use and evolution of the CEA research reactors; Utilisation et evolution des reacteurs de recherche du C.E.A}
author = {Rossillon, F, and Chauvez, C}
abstractNote = {The authors successively examine the different research reactors in use in the French C.E.A. Nuclear Centres. They trace briefly their histories, describing how they have been used up to the present, and how they have been adapted to changes in programme by means of certain modifications. They also describe the reasons which have led to the elaboration of the project for the new reactor Osiris. Zoe, the oldest reactor in the CEA, has been in service in the Centre de Fontenay-aux-Roses since 1948. It is used mainly for measurements of absorption cross-sections in graphite, and for various short irradiations which do not require high fluxes. The reactor EL 2, in service since 1952, was used for the first studies on gas cooling. It has also been widely used for the production of radioisotopes and for a large number of experiments in the fields of physics, metallurgy and physical chemistry. The ageing of certain elements of the reactor has led to the decision to close it down in the near future The reactor EL 3 has been widely used for experiments in physics and in the investigation of fuels. The possibilities of the reactor in fast neutron irradiations will be considerably improved by the adoption of a new type of core (the 'snow crystal' structure). Triton-I, a 2 MW swimming-pool reactor, is used for the most part for fast neutron and gamma irradiations. The modifications being carried out on it at present should result in an increase in the power of the reactor up to 4 or 5 MW. In a neighbouring compartment is housed Triton-II which is of the same general structure, as Triton-I, but whose maximum power is 100 kW. Triton-II is used solely for studies on shielding. Melusine, a 2 MW swimming-pool reactor, has been in use in the Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Grenoble since 1959. It has supported a very high programme concerned mainly with solid state physics, fundamental research into refractory fissile materials and special graphites, and the study of the behaviour of organic liquids under irradiation. The equipments of Melusine are now being modernized. Siloe, another swimming-pool reactor, has been operating at 15 MW since the end of 1963. The performances achieved constitute a considerable progress in the field of swimming-pool reactors, since the fluxes obtained with Siloe are in the same order of magnitude than those which needed till now a tank type structure, whose numerous disadvantages in the fitting of experiments are well known. Siloe will be used mostly in the study of structural materials, graphites, refractory fissile materials, and for solid state physics. The reactor Pegase, in service in the Cadarache Nuclear Centre since 1963, is intended solely for testing full-scale fuel elements of EDF and EL 4 types. The current programme, for the eight loops of the reactor, covers the elements for the reactors EDF 2, EDF 3 and EL 4. New loops are in the course of being studied for the fuel elements of the EDF 4 and EDF 5 reactors. The general line of the CEA programmes has shown up the considerable need for fast neutron irradiations. The reactor Osiris which is in the course of being constructed will serve to complement the CEA's equipment in this field and at the same time fill the gap which will be left in the near future in the Centre de Saclay by the closing down of EL 2. Osiris is a light water reactor whose special structure will allow it to function at 50 MW without the disadvantages usually associated with the presence of a heavy waterproof tank. This reactor, which should be put into service in 1966, is mainly intended for the investigation of structural materials, graphite and refractory fuels; it will also serve to increase the production of high specific activity isotopes, and to develop activation analysis techniques. (authors) [French] Les auteurs examinent successivement les differents reacteurs de recherche en service dans les Centres du Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique. Ils retracent brievement l'histoire de ces reacteurs en montrant ce qu'a ete jusqu'a present leur utilisation, et comment certaines modifications ont permis de les adapter a l'evolution des programmes. Ils precisent egalement les raisons qui ont conduit a l'elaboration du projet de la nouvelle pile OSIRIS, La pile ZOE, la plus ancienne du CEA, est en service au Centre de Fontenay-aux-Roses depuis 1948. Elle est principalement utilisee pour les mesures de section efficace d'absorption du graphite, et pour diverses irradiations de courte duree ne necessitant que des flux peu eleves. La Pile EL2, en service depuis 1952, a permis les premieres etudes liees au refroidissement par gaz. Elle a ete tres utilisee pour la production des radioisotopes et pour de nombreuses experiences de physique, de metallurgie et de physico-chimie - le vieillissement de certaines parties du reacteur a conduit a decider l'arret prochain de cette installation. La Pile EL. 3 a ete tres utilisee pour les experiences de physique et pour l'etude des combustibles. L'adoption d'une nouvelle structure pour le coeur (solution 'Cristal de neige') va permettre d'accroitre considerablement les possibilites de la pile pour les irradiations en neutrons rapides. La pile TRITON-I, piscine de 2 MW, est surtout utilisee pour les irradiations en neutrons rapides et en gamma. Certaines modifications, actuellement en cours, permettront d'accroitre la puissance du reacteur jusqu'a 4 ou 5 MW. Dans un compartiment voisin de TRITON-I est implantee la Pile TRITON-II, de meme structure generale, mais dont la puissance maximum est de 100 kW. TRITON-II est utilisee exclusivement pour les etudes de protections. MELUSINE, pile piscine de 2 MW est en fonctionnement au Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Grenoble depuis 1959. Elle a permis l'execution d'un programme important concernant surtout la physique du solide, l'etude fondamentale de combustibles refractaires et de graphites speciaux, et l'etude du comportement des liquides organiques sous radiations. Les installations de MELUSINE sont actuellement en cours de modernisation. La Pile SILOE, egalement du type piscine, est en fonctionnement a 15 MW depuis la fin de l'annee 1963. Les performances realisees constituent un progres considerable dans le domaine des piles piscines, les flux obtenus etant d'un ordre de grandeur qui exigeait jusqu'a present l'adoption d'une structure 'a caisson' dont on connait les nombreux inconvenients pour la realisation des experiences. La pile SILOE sera surtout utilisee pour l'etude des materiaux de structure, du graphite, des combustibles refractaires, et pour la physique du solide. La Pile PEGASE, en service au Centre de Cadarache depuis 1963, est destinee uniquement au test, en vraie grandeur, des elements combustibles des filieres EDF et EL4. Le programme actuel pour les 8 boucles de la Pile concerne les elements des Piles EDF 2, EDF 3 et EL 4. De nouvelles boucles sont en cours d'etude pour les elements combustibles des piles EDF 4 et EDF 5. L'orientation des programmes du CEA a mis en evidence d'importants besoins d'irradiations en neutrons rapides. La Pile OSIRIS, actuellement en cours de realisation, permettra de completer les moyens du CEA dans ce domaine, tout en venant compenser, pour le Centre de Saclay, l'arret prochain de EL 2. OSIRIS est une pile a eau legere, mais dont la structure assez particuliere permettra un fonctionnement a 50 MW sans les inconvenients habituels lies a l'existence d'un caisson lourd et etanche. Cette pile, dont la mise en service est prevue pour 1966, sera surtout utilisee pour l'etude des materiaux de structure, du graphite et des combustibles refractaires; elle permettra egalement d'accroitre la production des radioisotopes a haute activite specifique, et de developper les techniques d'analyse par activation. (auteurs)}
place = {France}
year = {1964}
month = {Jul}
}