France · Gif-sur-Yvette · 48.728, 2.154

Orphee

Orphee, a research reactor (pool) in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, with 14 MW of thermal power, operated by CEA Saclay. Shut down, first critical in 1980.

It was one of the 38 research reactors France has had; 2 remain in operation today. It went critical 32 years after the first research reactor in France, ZOE (EL-1) (1948). 48 pool-type reactors remain in operation today across 28 countries. Its declared uses include isotope production, neutron scattering, neutron radiography and activation analysis.

Country

France

City

Gif-sur-Yvette

Type

Pool

Thermal power

14 MW

Operator

CEA Saclay

Status

Shut down

First criticality

1980

Purpose

Isotope production, neutron scattering, neutron radiography, activation analysis, geochronology

See also: every research reactor in France · How research reactors work