<p>India's maiden fast-breeder reactor (FBR) that will generate more nuclear fuel than what it consumes, will be commissioned in Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu by September, 2014.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Even though 93 per cent of the reactor had been constructed, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) would undertake extremely-detailed safety checks before it allows the FBR to go critical and generate electricity, said Ratan Kumar Sinha, chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.<br /><br />The first lot of 100 kilo gram of fuel for the FBR – a mixture of plutonium oxide and uranium oxide – has reached Kalpakkam. The fuel mix was prepared in Tarapur.<br /><br />But since FBR uses liquid sodium – a highly hazardous material – as a coolant, AERB would be extra cautious before permitting the plant's commissioning. <br /><br />Though there are many built-in checks to avoid accidents, every system and sub-systems are to be checked repeatedly.<br /><br />Nuclear scientists are confident of the FBR's design because of their experience with a 30 MW breeder test reactor which has been operational for the last two decades. But even then commercial-scale breeder reactors is uncharted territory as there is no large breeder reactor anywhere in the world.<br /><br />The only other country building a large FBR is Russia, whose 880 MW BN-800 FBR too is scheduled to go on stream by 2014 end. Satisfied with the progress in the breeder programme made so far, the government has allocated Rs 250 crore for pre-project activities to construct two more fast reactors of 500 MW capacity each at Kalpakkam in the 12th plan. <br /><br />Between 2018 and 2027, four more FBR units have been planned.<br /><br />India's biggest nuclear reactor at Kudankulam is expected to produce commercial power after another week when the Russian-origin boiling water reactor would generate 400 MWe for the southern grid, said V Narayansamy, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.<br /><br />Commissioning of the FBR would mark the beginning of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme, envisaged by Homi Bhabha in the 1950s.<br /><br />While the first stage, electricity is produced from natural uranium, in the second stage fast breeder reactors will generate power from plutonium and create more plutonium in the breeder to grow plutonium inventory to the required level.<br /><br />Its production capacity would be gradually enhanced so that it can produce full power, 1000 MWe, by October to feed power-starved south India.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>
<p>India's maiden fast-breeder reactor (FBR) that will generate more nuclear fuel than what it consumes, will be commissioned in Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu by September, 2014.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Even though 93 per cent of the reactor had been constructed, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) would undertake extremely-detailed safety checks before it allows the FBR to go critical and generate electricity, said Ratan Kumar Sinha, chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.<br /><br />The first lot of 100 kilo gram of fuel for the FBR – a mixture of plutonium oxide and uranium oxide – has reached Kalpakkam. The fuel mix was prepared in Tarapur.<br /><br />But since FBR uses liquid sodium – a highly hazardous material – as a coolant, AERB would be extra cautious before permitting the plant's commissioning. <br /><br />Though there are many built-in checks to avoid accidents, every system and sub-systems are to be checked repeatedly.<br /><br />Nuclear scientists are confident of the FBR's design because of their experience with a 30 MW breeder test reactor which has been operational for the last two decades. But even then commercial-scale breeder reactors is uncharted territory as there is no large breeder reactor anywhere in the world.<br /><br />The only other country building a large FBR is Russia, whose 880 MW BN-800 FBR too is scheduled to go on stream by 2014 end. Satisfied with the progress in the breeder programme made so far, the government has allocated Rs 250 crore for pre-project activities to construct two more fast reactors of 500 MW capacity each at Kalpakkam in the 12th plan. <br /><br />Between 2018 and 2027, four more FBR units have been planned.<br /><br />India's biggest nuclear reactor at Kudankulam is expected to produce commercial power after another week when the Russian-origin boiling water reactor would generate 400 MWe for the southern grid, said V Narayansamy, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.<br /><br />Commissioning of the FBR would mark the beginning of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme, envisaged by Homi Bhabha in the 1950s.<br /><br />While the first stage, electricity is produced from natural uranium, in the second stage fast breeder reactors will generate power from plutonium and create more plutonium in the breeder to grow plutonium inventory to the required level.<br /><br />Its production capacity would be gradually enhanced so that it can produce full power, 1000 MWe, by October to feed power-starved south India.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>
