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SODIUM-COOLED FAST BREEDER REACTORS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Dr M Guidez
Director, France’s Phenix Fast Reactor Program
AINSE Lecture Theatre Lucas Heights 9 Nov 2007
Dr Guidez explained that sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) are based on well-known technology and 18 of these reactors have operated in the world. They offer good availability and safety and do not need enriched uranium. Several new reactors are under construction or planned in China, India, Japan and Russia. This type of reactor is one of six systems being studied in the Gen IV program.
In 2007 there were six SFRs in operation and three under construction. Advantages of this system are: minimum gaseous or liquid releases during operation; uranium use may be increased by a factor of 100 by using depleted uranium and plutonium from light water reactors as a source of fuel; and it is possible to transmute long-lived actinide waste.
Dr Guidez reported that the French reactor Phenix restarted in 2003 after safety upgrading. Its availability factor ranged from 78% in 2004 to 96% in 2007. In January 2007 it recorded 99 days of operation without a shutdown. Dr Guidez believes that with France’s currently available supply of uranium of about 100,000 te and a fleet of SFRs, the country’s electricity demand could be met for 5000 years. He concluded that nuclear power was an essential element for a sustainable future.
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