Bugey Nuclear Power Plant

Infobox NPP
Picture = centrale-nucleaire-Bugey.jpg
Pic_des = Nuclear power station Bugey
Country = France
EIGENTÜMER = EDF
Utility = EDF
Built = 1964
Start = April 15, 1972
End =
Reactor = 5
Reactor_MW = 3,724
S_Reactor = 1
S_Reactor_MW = 555
El_Prod = 25,654
for_year = 2006
El_Prod_avg = 24,553
Net_Prod = 645,711
WEBSITE = [http://www.edf.fr/35059i/Accueilfr/InfosNucleaire/Planrapproche/Lessitesfrancais/Bugey.html www.edf.fr, Bugey]
as_of = July 22 2007The Bugey Nuclear Power Station is located in Bugey in the Saint-Vulbas commune (Ain), about 30 km from the Swiss border. The site occupies 100 hectares. It is on the edge of the Rhône River, from where it gets its cooling water from, and is about 30 km upstream from Lyon. About 1,200 people work at the site.

The site houses 4 currently operating units, all being pressurized water reactors; the first unit to be built was the last of its kind to built in the world. The 5th reactor (unit 1) is currently being dismantled.

Some of the cooling comes from direct use of the Rhône water (units 2 and 3) while some is done by the use of cooling towers (units 4 and 5).

eismic activity

According to reports from the Autorité de sûreté nucléaire [The French [http://nuclear-safety.asn.fr/ Nuclear Safety Authority] en] , some safety functions may not be provided in the event of an earthquake. The area is not known for its seismic activity though.

In the last few years, the plant was modernized to updated earthquake resistance standards.

Heat dumping

During the heat wave on July 20, 2003 water was directly dumped into the Rhône, which is permitted in extreme cases, for about 2 hours and the maximum heat difference was 0.9 degrees Celsius. Again on July 30, 2003 water was directly discharged into the Rhône for 9 hours.

Reactor units

References

External links

* [http://www.insc.anl.gov/cgi-bin/sql_interface?view=rx_list&country=all&type=all&status=all&plant=bugey INSC database: Bugey] en