The 'Reacteur Jules Horowitz': A new Experimental Reactor Project

摘要

The Jules Horowitz Reactor is a new research reacotr project dediated to materials and nuclear fuel testing, the location of which is foreseen at the CEA-CADARACHE site, and the start-up in 2006. The launching of this project originated from a double finding: the development of nuclear power plants aimed at satisfying the enrgy needs of the next century, cnnot be envisaged without experimental reactors whihc are unrivaled for the validation of new concepts of nuclear fuels, materials, and components as well as for their qualification under irradation. the existing experimental reactors are 30 to 40 years old and it is advisable to examine henceforth the necessityu for and the nature of a new reactor to take over and replace, at the begining of next certury, the reactors shut-down in the mean time or at the very end of their lives. Within this framework, the CEA has undertaken, in the last years, a study on the mid and long term irradiation needs, to determine the main features and performances of this new reactor. The ocncept of the reactor will ahve to fulfill the thermal neutron irradiation requiements as well as the fast neutron experimental needs, with a great potential versaility for any new irradation programs. The reacotr project selected among several different ocncepts, is finally a light water pool concept, with 100 MW thermal power. It could reach neutronic fluxes twice those of present Fench reactors, and allows for many irradiations in and around the core, under high neutron fluxes. The reactor will satisfy the highest level of safety in full accordance with international safety recommendations and the french safety approach for this kind of nuclear facility, thus giving an added safety margin keeping in mind the versatility fo research reactors. The feasibility studies have been fouceed on the following most important items: neutronic and thermalhydraulic studies on alternative core designs, with or without added pressurization. assessment of different core surrounding structures in connectin with the core studies, overlal layout of the ractor/auxiliary pools and reactor building.