Georges Besse II, a major investment
Enrichment, a key stage in the fuel chain
"Georges Besse II" brochure
Rapport de sûreté nucléaire et radioprotection 2009 du site du Tricastin
"Rapport de sûreté nucléaire et radioprotection 2009 du site du Tricastin" [FR]
A transition at Tricastin: diffusion to centrifugation
Fuel activities brochure
The nuclear power cycle - brochure
Public debate "Projet Georges Besse II" brochure [FR]
"Rapport environnemental Tricastin 2007"- [FR]
Enrichment: increasing the proportion of U235
The majority of reactors use uranium containing between 3% and 5% uranium-235 as fuel. Natural uranium contains only 0.7%. It is therefore necessary to increase the concentration of uranium-235 to obtain a fuel that can be used in nuclear reactors. This is called enrichment. AREVA uses the 2 industrial processes which are currently in use around the world: gaseous diffusion and centrifugation in Georges Besse plant and Georges Besse II plant, in commercial operation since 2009.
Isotopic transformation of uranium
Natural uranium contains only a small amount of the fissile isotope U235. This must be increased to allow the reactivity of the fuel.
Industrial uranium enrichment processes
Gaseous diffusion and centrifugation are enrichment processes currently in use. While the former is more frequently used, the latter provides better performance.
"Georges Besse II" brochure
The Georges Besse II facility will take enrichment activity at AREVA into a new era. Presentation of the planned process of centrifugation enrichment, the design of the facility and its impact on the environment.
A transition at Tricastin: diffusion to centrifugation
The Georges Besse plant, in Tricastin, enriches the uranium necessary for the operation of more than one hundred reactors, i.e. 25% of the world’s park.Why and how is enrichment performed? All about site technology, logistics, and environmental protection.
