Country Japan Reactor type HWLWR Nameplate capacity 165 MW Closed 29 March 2003 Decommission date 29 March 2003 | Status Decommissioned Units decommissioned 1 x 165 MW Capacity factor 23.9% Construction began 10 May 1972 | |
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Operator Japan Atomic Energy Agency Similar Monju Nuclear Power Pl, Tsuruga Nuclear Power Pl, Mihama Nuclear Power Pl, Shika Nuclear Power Pl, Takahama Nuclear Power Pl | ||
Fugen ふげん (Fugen) is a prototype Japanese nuclear test reactor that is shut down and awaiting decommission. It is located in 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 Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra), a Buddhist deity.
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 covers 267,694 m2 (66 acres); buildings occupy 7,762 m2 (1.9 acres), and it has 46,488 m2 of floor space. It employed 256 workers.
Accidents
During dismantling operations it was found that walls with controls did not have the necessary strength at 25 of 34 points.