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Pathfinder nuclear power plant

Retired United States
Gross capacity
63MW

Pathfinder nuclear power plant is a boiling water reactor unit at Pathfinder nuclear power plant in United States rated at 63 MW gross. It is retired. Commercial operation began 1 Aug 1966.

Specification
Reactor type Boiling water reactor (BWR)
ModelPrototype
Size classLarge
CoolantLight water
ModeratorLight water
Gross capacity63MW
Net capacity (reference)59MW
Net capacity (design)59MW
Thermal output220MWt
Typical enrichment3–5% U-235
Ownership & location
SitePathfinder nuclear power plant
Unitnot stated
CountryUnited States
OwnerXcel Energy Inc100%
OperatorNuclear Management
Coordinates 43.6036, -96.6375
Fuel chain for this unit
Fuel form
Uranium dioxide pellets in zirconium-alloy cladding
Enrichment
3–5% U-235
Who makes this assembly
Upstream

Enriched fuel means this unit sits downstream of five conversion plants and four enrichment operators holding 88% of world capacity between the top three.

RosatomUrencoCNNCOrano
Conversion
CamecoCNNCConverDynOranoRosatom
Fabricator capability is recorded against reactor type and model line, not against named units — utilities do not publish fuel contracts. See the fuel chain.

Timeline

  1. 1 Jan 1959Construction start
  2. 1 Jan 1964First criticality
  3. 25 Jul 1966Grid connection
  4. 1 Aug 1966Commercial operation
  5. 1 Oct 1967Permanent shutdown

Other Prototype units

5 units worldwide share this model designation.

UnitCountryStatusGross MW
BR3 nuclear power plant 3 Belgium Retired 12
Carolinas-Virginia Tube Reactor nuclear power plant United States Retired 19
KNK II nuclear power plant Germany Retired 21
Kalpakkam nuclear power plant PFBR India Under construction 500

Sources