India’s First Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), located in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, is expected to be commissioned next year, marking the next phase in the country’s three-stage nuclear program.

Overview of India’s First Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

• The PFBR is a 500 MWe sodium-cooled reactor situated in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.
• Developed by BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), a government-owned enterprise formed in 2003 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the reactor is a significant step towards India’s pursuit of fast breeder reactors.
• While construction began in 2004, the reactor’s completion, initially planned for September 2010, has been delayed several times.
• Unlike conventional nuclear reactors, the PFBR utilizes fast neutrons for energy generation and employs liquid sodium as a coolant rather than water.
• This unique design allows the reactor to generate more fuel than it consumes, providing a sustainable solution to meet India’s growing energy needs.
• The PFBR runs on mixed oxide fuel (MOX), which is composed of plutonium and uranium, offering higher efficiency in power generation.
• Its advanced sodium cooling system facilitates operation at elevated temperatures, boosting overall efficiency.
• The reactor also features a range of safety mechanisms, including a reinforced containment structure and passive cooling systems designed to prevent overheating.

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Program

• India has developed a three-stage nuclear power strategy with the ultimate aim of using a thorium-based closed nuclear fuel cycle.
  • The first stage involves using pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs), powered by natural uranium, alongside light water reactors.
  • The second stage focuses on reprocessing spent fuel from the first stage to extract plutonium, which is then used to fuel Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs).
  • In the third stage, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) will utilize thorium-plutonium fuel and breed uranium-233.