These research reactors are also significant sources for the production of certain radionuclides for medical uses. The power of these reactors varies from a few tens to a hundred MWth. These reactors operate in cycles of about 20 to 30 days. In France, since the final shutdown of the Osiris reactor (BNI 40) on CEA’s Saclay site in 2015, there have been no technological irradiation reactors in operation. The Jules Horowitz reactor (JHR – BNI 172), which is intended to replace Osiris, is under construction in Cadarache. Commissioning of the facility, which comprises a number of milestones, is currently being examined by ASN. On 19 July 2023, the Nuclear Policy Council also ratified the continued investment by the State and the sector to finalise the construction of the JHR, so that France would have this new operational facility by 2032-2034. This reactor will be able to support research on extending the lifetime of the existing NPP fleet, on the EPR 2, but also on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs – see chapter 11). It is also intended to provide a significant capacity for producing radionuclides for medical purposes. 2. Tokamak, a Russian acronym meaning “toroidal chamber with magnetic coils”, is a machine that uses magnetic fields to create, confine and control a hot plasma of hydrogen isotopes in which the fusion reaction can occur. Fusion reactors Unlike the research reactors previously described and which use nuclear fission reactions, some research facilities aim to produce nuclear fusion reactions. In France, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER facility – BNI 174) is an international fusion reactor project currently under construction in Cadarache. The purpose of ITER is to scientifically and technically demonstrate control of nuclear fusion by magnetic confinement of a deuterium-tritium plasma, during long-duration experiments with significant power (500 Megawatts - MW - for 400 seconds). The main risk control challenges and detrimental effects of this type of installation include controlling the containment of radioactive materials (tritium in particular) and the risks of exposure to ionising radiation owing to significant activation of materials under an intense neutron flux. The management of tritiated or activated wastes is also a major issue for these facilities, even though their radiotoxicity and half-lives are in principle very much lower than those of the operational wastes from fission reactors. In 2024, Iter Organization (IO) continued the validation of the facility’s experimentation programme of the “new reference scenario”. IO has moreover started the repairs of the defective welds found on the first sectors of the tokamak(2) vacuum chamber, and the repairs of the thermal shield cooling systems which have been subject to stress-corrosion cracking. ASN underlines an improvement in the transparency of the interactions on the associated safety risks. The hold points associated with the project, notably the one relating to assembly of the tokamak, will be redefined within the context of the review associated with this new experimentation programme. 1.2 Laboratories and miscellaneous industrial facilities 1.2.1 Laboratories The laboratories carrying out research and development work for the nuclear sector contribute to enhancing knowledge for nuclear power production, fuel fabrication and reprocessing, and waste management. They can also produce radionuclides for medical uses. Principles and safety issues The main challenges inherent in these facilities are protecting persons against ionising radiation, preventing the dispersal of radioactive substances, controlling fire risks and controlling the chain reaction (criticality). The design principles for these laboratories are similar. Special areas, called “shielded cells” allow handling of and experimentation with radioactive substances, using appropriate handling systems. These shielded cells are designed with particularly thick walls and windows, to protect the operators against the ionising radiation. They also allow the containment of radioactive materials by means of a specific ventilation and filters system. The criticality risk is controlled through strict instructions regarding the handling, storage and monitoring of the materials being studied, and the use of specially designed equipment. Finally, the fire risk is managed using technical systems (fire doors, dampers, detectors, fire-fighting equipment, etc.) and an organisation limiting the fire loading. Personnel training and rigorous organisation are essential factors in guaranteeing the control of these main risks. Nuclear research and miscellaneous industrial facilities Research reactors under construction • Cadarache: ITER, JHR Laboratories and miscellaneous industrial facilities • Cadarache: LECA/STAR, Lefca • Saclay: LECI, UPRA • Marcoule: Atalante Particle accelerators • Caen: Ganil • Genève: CERN Storage of materials • Cadarache: Magenta Industrial ionisation facilities • Dagneux, Pouzauges, Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Ionisos • Marseille: Gammaster • Marcoule: Gammatec • Saclay: Poséidon Research reactors • Cadarache: Cabri • Grenoble: RHF CAEN SABLÉ-SUR-SARTHE POUZAUGES DAGNEUX MARSEILLE GENÈVE GRENOBLE MARCOULE CADARACHE SACLAY 346 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Nuclear research and miscellaneous industrial facilities
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