| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Nuclear Technology, Issue: Fast Breeder Reactor |
Context:
- India’s indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, commenced core loading.
- Core loading involves placing nuclear fuel assemblies inside the reactor core.
India’s FBR program:
- Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) was established in 2003 to build and operate the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)
- Once operational, India will be the second country after Russia with a commercial operating FBR, while China has a smaller FBR program
Significance of FBR program:
- Department of Atomic Energy’s (DAE) three-stage power programme aims to utilize thorium reserves for electricity generation.
- FBRs play a crucial role in the three-stage programme by converting fertile materials like U238 and thorium into fissile materials like Pu239 and U233.
- India’s “closed fuel cycle” approach involves reprocessing spent fuel to separate useful isotopes for fuel multiplication. and eventual thorium utilization in the third stage.
- India-US civil nuclear deal has increased the pace of its nuclear programme.
| India’s Three Stage Nuclear Program | |
| Stage | Description |
| First | · Setting up Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) using natural uranium and heavy water as coolant and moderator.· NPCIL operates 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 6,780 MWe. · Construction of imported Light Water Reactors (LWRs) with Russian collaboration. |
| Second | · Establishment of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) alongside reprocessing and plutonium fabrication plants.· Aimed at multiplying fissile material inventory to enable a higher power base and thorium utilization. |
| Third | · Implementation of the ThU233 cycle, utilizing U233 produced from thorium irradiation in PHWRs and FBRs.· Proposed Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) for producing U233. · Combining reactors from all stages for long-term energy security. · Commercial utilization of thorium depends on abundant U233 or Pu239 supplies. · Progress on FBRs indicates advancement towards the third phase. |
