Fugen
Encyclopedia
Fugen is a prototype Japanese nuclear test reactor that is currently shut down and awaiting decommissioning
. It is located in the Myōjin chō in the city of Tsuruga, Fukui
. The design is an Advanced Thermal Reactor, which is a product of Japan. The name "Fugen" is derived from the Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra
) god in Buddhism
.
The reactor was the first in the world to use a full MOX fuel
core. It had 772 assemblies, the most in the world. It has received the title of a historic landmark from the American Nuclear Society
.
The design boils ordinary water like a boiling water reactor
(BWR) but uses heavy water as a moderator as in a CANDU reactor. The electrical output was 165 MW and the thermal output was 557 MW. On March 3, 2005, the reactor stopped operations.
The plant is located on a site that spans 267,694 m2 (66 acres), the buildings occupy 7,762 m2 (1.9 acres), and it has 46,488 m2 of floor space. It employs 256 workers.
Also with dismantling there were surprises: With controls it was stated that walls at 25 of 34 points did not have the necessary strength.
Nuclear decommissioning
Nuclear decommissioning is the dismantling of a nuclear power plant and decontamination of the site to a state no longer requiring protection from radiation for the general public...
. It is located in the Myōjin chō in the city of Tsuruga, Fukui
Tsuruga, Fukui
is a city located in southern Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Outline:One of city of Wakasa Area, present southern Fukui Prececture. Municipalized on April 1, 1937....
. The design is an Advanced Thermal Reactor, which is a product of Japan. The name "Fugen" is derived from the Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra , is a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with Buddhist practice and meditation. Together with Shakyamuni Buddha and fellow bodhisattva Manjusri he forms the Shakyamuni trinity in Buddhism...
) god in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
.
The reactor was the first in the world to use a full MOX fuel
MOX fuel
Mixed oxide fuel, commonly referred to as MOX fuel, is nuclear fuel that contains more than one oxide of fissile material. MOX fuel contains plutonium blended with natural uranium, reprocessed uranium, or depleted uranium. MOX fuel is an alternative to the low-enriched uranium fuel used in the...
core. It had 772 assemblies, the most in the world. It has received the title of a historic landmark from the American Nuclear Society
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....
.
The design boils ordinary water like a boiling water reactor
Boiling water reactor
The boiling water reactor is a type of light water nuclear reactor used for the generation of electrical power. It is the second most common type of electricity-generating nuclear reactor after the pressurized water reactor , also a type of light water nuclear reactor...
(BWR) but uses heavy water as a moderator as in a CANDU reactor. The electrical output was 165 MW and the thermal output was 557 MW. On March 3, 2005, the reactor stopped operations.
- Core temperature: 300 °C
- Pellet centerline temperature: 2200 °C
- Fuel conversion time: 6 months
The plant is located on a site that spans 267,694 m2 (66 acres), the buildings occupy 7,762 m2 (1.9 acres), and it has 46,488 m2 of floor space. It employs 256 workers.
Accidents
- 14 - 16 April 1997 a tritium leakage was announced to the responsible authorities 30 hours after the event. During the following investigation it was shown that it already had 11 similar incidents. Five managers of the operator at that time (at the time: Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development CorporationPower Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development CorporationThe or for short, was a Japanese nuclear energy research organization established October 2, 1967 with the Atomic Fuel Corporation as its parent organization and disbanded 1998 to be restructured as Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute. The organization specialized in special Breeder...
) resigned. - 8 April 2002 about 200 cubic meters of steam escaped from a defective pipe. The reactor was switched off.
Also with dismantling there were surprises: With controls it was stated that walls at 25 of 34 points did not have the necessary strength.