SCK•CEN

The Study Centre for Nuclear Energy (Dutch study Centrum voor nuclear energy • French Centre d' Étude de l' énergie Nucléaire, SCK • CEN short ) is a Belgian Nuclear Research Centre in Mol

In the complex a total of five nuclear reactors were operated. The reactor BR-3 was. Than nuclear power plant from 1962 to 1987 in operation and the first commercial nuclear reactor in Belgium, also the first commercial electricity generating pressurized water reactor in Europe

For the other four reactors are research reactors. The reactors BR-1 and BR -2 are in operation, the reactor VENUS is temporarily switched off and the BR -02 is shut down.

Nuclear reactors

BR-1

Construction of the Research Reactor BR-1 was on January 1, 1954. On Friday, 11 May 1956, he became critical first Belgian research reactor. It is an air-cooled reactor with graphite as a moderator natural uranium as fuel and a thermal output of 4 MW.

BR -2

Construction of the light water cooled reactor with a thermal output of 100 MW was on 1 January 1958, so that he could go into operation on 29 June 1961. Plans to build a breeder reactor, but failed.

BR-3

The third reactor was a prototype pressurized water reactor, which had a thermal output of 40.9 MW and an electrical output of 10 MW net and 12 gross MW. Construction of the reactor was on November 1, 1957. He was born on August 29, 1962 for the first time critical. On October 10, 1962, he was first synchronized with the power grid and went into commercial operation on the same day. On June 30, 1987, the power plant was finally shut down.

VENUS

The zero power reactor VENUS ( Vulcain Experimental Nuclear Study) was the first critical after construction began on January 1, 1963 on April 30, 1964. He was shut down temporarily on January 3, 2007 and is located in a rebuilding phase.

BR -4

Another commercial reactor, a pressurized water reactor with 1000 MW capacity is planned vague.

Data of the reactors

In the study center for nuclear energy was a commercial power plant unit:

In nuclear research center, four research reactors were operated:

Pictures of SCK•CEN

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