NEWS – India’s nuclear regulator has allowed the Department of Atomic Energy to operationalize the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). The reactor is located at Kalpakkam, near Chennai.

HIGHLIGHTS

Significance of PFBR

• Phase Transition: The PFBR marks India’s entry into the second phase of its three-phase nuclear power programme, as envisioned by Homi Bhabha.
• Breeder Reactor: Designed to generate more nuclear fuel than it consumes, the PFBR is a significant advancement in nuclear technology.

Operational and Safety Aspects

• Approval Details: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted permission for the “first approach to criticality” on July 27.
• Safety Measures: Extensive safety reviews and assessments have been conducted, with periodic inspections by a resident site observer team.

Background and Context

• BHAVINI’s Role: The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is being commissioned by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI), a public sector firm established in 2003.
• Technology Comparison: Other countries like China, Japan, France, and the US have fast breeder reactors, many programs have been shut down due to safety concerns.

Challenges

• Sodium Coolant: The use of sodium, a hazardous material, as a coolant has raised safety concerns, but the AERB assures comprehensive safety protocols are in place.

NUCLEAR PROGRAM STAGES IN INDIA

India’s three-stage nuclear power program, formulated by Homi Bhabha in the 1950s, aims to achieve long-term energy independence through the use of uranium and thorium reserves.

Stage 1: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)

• Objective: Set up PHWRs and associated fuel cycle facilities.
• Fuel and Moderator: Uses natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both moderator and coolant.
• Current Status: Already operational in the commercial domain.
• Implementation: Managed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), a public sector undertaking of DAE.

Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)

• Objective: Establish FBRs supported by reprocessing plants and plutonium-based fuel fabrication plants.
• Function: Breeds more fissile material than it consumes; produces plutonium by irradiating uranium-238.
• Fuel: Uses a blend of plutonium and uranium oxide (MOX fuel).
• Current Status: In the technology demonstration stage.
• Implementation: Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) is responsible; aims to add 500 MWe to the Southern grid by 2017.
• Cost: Tariff of PFBR electricity is competitive with conventional coal-based power stations.

Stage 3: Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR)

• Objective: Utilize the thorium-uranium-233 cycle.
• Fuel: Uranium-233 obtained by irradiating thorium.
• Thorium Reserves: India has one of the largest thorium reserves globally.
• Current Status: Developing a 300 MWe AHWR at BARC to demonstrate expertise in thorium utilization and advanced safety concepts.
• Future Plans: Large-scale thorium-based systems will be implemented only after a significant capacity based on FBRs is established.

Objective of the Three-Stage Program

• Focus: Utilize India’s thorium reserves to meet energy requirements.
• Thorium vs. Uranium: India has limited uranium but extensive thorium reserves; however, thorium is not currently economically viable due to lower global uranium prices.
• Indo-US Nuclear Deal: The NSG waiver and the deal have opened new possibilities for the success of the three-stage program.
• Fuel Transition: Thorium must be transmuted to uranium-233 in reactors fueled by fissile materials like plutonium-239 or uranium-235. The first two stages generate fissile material from uranium resources to enable the use of thorium in the third stage.