Cabinet gives nod for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors
A proposal to construct 10 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors with a total capacity of 7000MWe was cleared by the Union cabinet.
The existing operational capacity in India is 6,780MW and a similar capacity will be set up by 2021-22
Rationale behind the decision:
- Our international collaborations for nuclear projects have faced trouble recently
- The deal with US which involved setting up of six reactors in Andhra Pradesh has hit a rough patch after Westinghouse (US firm) filed for bankruptcy
- The other deal which involved French firm Areva for setting up reactors in Jaitapur is still being negotiated due to differences over cost
- On the positive side, the approval signifies the belief we have in the capability of India’s scientific community to build indigenous technological capabilities
- India has achieved complete self-reliance in PHWR technology
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR):
- A nuclear reactor that enriched natural uranium as its fuel and heavy water as coolant and moderator
- Pressure allows the heavy water to be heated to higher temperature without boiling
Advantages of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR) technology:
- Optimum utilization of the limited uranium resources
- Higher Plutonium yield, for the second stage fuel
- Availability of Indigenous Technology
Indian Nuclear Power Generation: A Three Stage Programme envisaged
- Stage 1: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor
- Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactor,
- Pu-239 obtained from the first stage reactor operation will be used as the fuel core in fast breeder reactors (FBR)
- A blanket of U-238 surrounding the fuel core will produce fresh Pu-239 as more and more Pu-239 is consumed
- Besides a blanket of Th-232 around the FBR core undergoes neutron capture reactions which will lead to the formation of U-233
- Stage 3: Breeder Reactor
- Use U-233 as fuel which is obtained in the second stage
- Besides, U-233 fueled breeder reactors will have a Th-232 blanket around the U-233 reactor core which will generate more U-233 as the reactor goes operational
