Rapsodie

Rapsodie was an experimental nuclear reactor built in Cadarache in France.

It was France's first fast reactor, and first achieved criticality in 1967. Rapsodie was a sodium-cooled fast neutron loop-type reactor with a thermal output of 40MW and no electrical generation facilities, and closed in 1983.[1]

Rapsodie was operated in conditions considered representative of a commercial plant in terms of temperatures (inlet 400 °C (752 °F), outlet 550 °C (1,022 °F)) and neutron flux (3.2e15n/cm/s), and served to prove many elements used in later, larger, breeder reactors.

Rapsodie operated for 15 years, and suffered two leaks, a sodium micro leak in 1978 that was so small it was never found, and a nitrogen gas leak in 1982.[2]

Rapsodie is currently in Stage 2 decommissioning.

See also
  • Fast neutron reactor

References
  1. http://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/CEG/documents/ws102003_michaille1-e.pdf
  2. http://www.tesionline.com/__PDF/23539/23539p.pdf


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