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Fast Breeder Programme
FBTR, a test bed for irradiation of fuel and structural materials of future breeder reactors, was in continuous operation for 52 days with the turbo-generator synchronised to the grid. It generated about 6 lakh units of electricity. The carbide fuel subassembly of Mark-I composition behaved excellently in FBTR and its burnup reached about 72,000 MWd/t. Production of the fuel of Mark-II composition progressed at Trombay.
Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam
The pre-project activities for setting up the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) proceeded as per schedule. AERB’s clearance for the PFBR site was received. Some major components were received at site.
Buckling of Inner vessel model under mechanical load
The engineering developments relating to PFBR included design studies on the inner vessel of PFBR; commissioning of a new sodium loop for sodium technology, and setting up of boron enrichment facility. The Steam Generator Test Facility made good progress.
Towards Thorium Utilisation
KAMINI, the research facility at Kalpakkam, which uses uranium-233 (extracted from irradiated thorium) fuel, is a pioneering endeavour towards thorium utilisation. The reactor was operated upto 30kW and used for irradiation of specimens for experimental/forensic purposes.
Designed by BARC, the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), which will use fuel based on plutonium and thorium, moved to the technology development stage.
Design work for setting-up a new critical facility for carrying out reactor physics experiments for AHWR and 500 MWe PHWRs, was completed at Trombay.
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