Loading…
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Chennai, has successfully achieved 'criticality'.
Criticality signifies that the nuclear chain reaction within the reactor has become safely self-sustaining.
This milestone marks a crucial advancement in the second stage of India's indigenous three-stage nuclear power program.
The PFBR is vital for India's long-term strategy to harness its vast domestic thorium reserves for energy security.
A Fast Breeder Reactor is a nuclear reactor that generates more fissile material (nuclear fuel) than it consumes while operating. It achieves this by using fast (unenriched) neutrons to 'breed' new fissile fuel from fertile materials. For instance, it can convert Uranium-238 (a common isotope) into Plutonium-239, or Thorium-232 into Uranium-233. This technology is crucial for countries like India with limited uranium but abundant thorium reserves, as it allows for a closed fuel cycle, enhancing fuel utilization and reducing radioactive waste.
Simple Analogy: Imagine a special oven that, while baking a loaf of bread, also creates enough dough to bake more than one new loaf. An FBR is similar, producing more nuclear fuel than it 'burns' during power generation.
The PFBR is central to the second stage, which aims to use plutonium (bred in the first stage from natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors) to fuel FBRs, simultaneously breeding Uranium-233 from thorium for the third stage.
FBRs contribute to a closed nuclear fuel cycle, significantly improving fuel utilization efficiency and potentially reducing the volume and radiotoxicity of high-level radioactive waste.
By enabling the use of India's vast thorium reserves, FBRs reduce dependence on imported uranium, bolstering the nation's energy independence and long-term security.
The apex body under the Prime Minister of India, responsible for all aspects of nuclear science and technology, including the nuclear power program.
A public sector undertaking under DAE, specifically mandated for the construction and operation of Fast Breeder Reactors in India.
Responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of nuclear power reactors in India, excluding FBRs (which are BHAVINI's domain).
GS Paper 3: Science and Technology – Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Energy sector.
General Science, Current Affairs (National Importance)
General Awareness (Science & Technology, National News)
General Science, Current Affairs
General Knowledge, Science & Technology
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under "IAEA Safeguards" while others are not?
Answer: Some use imported uranium and others use domestic supplies
India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
Answer: It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Medium to High (Nuclear energy, indigenous technology, and energy security are recurring themes in competitive exams).
The state in a nuclear reactor where a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is achieved, meaning the rate of neutron production is equal to the rate of neutron loss.
A nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes, using fast neutrons.
A naturally occurring radioactive metallic element, abundant in India, which can be converted into fissile Uranium-233 for nuclear power generation.
A fissile isotope of uranium, bred from thorium, intended to be the primary fuel for the third stage of India's nuclear power program.