FBR-600

FBR-600
GenerationGeneration III+ reactor
Reactor conceptPlutonium Fast breeder reactor
Reactor lineIFBR (Indian fast-breeder Reactor)
Designed byIGCAR
Manufactured byBHAVINI
StatusUnder development
Main parameters of the reactor core
Fuel (fissile material)235U/239Pu (NEU/239Pu/MOX)
Fuel stateSolid
Neutron energy spectrumFast
Primary control methodcontrol rods
Primary coolantLiquid Sodium
Reactor usage
Primary useBreeding of 233U for AHWR-300 and Generation of electricity
Power (electric)600

The Fast Breeder Reactor-600 (FBR-600) or Indian Fast Breeder Reactor (IFBR) or Commercial Fast Breeder Reactor (CFBR) is a 600-MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor design presently being designed as part of India's three-stage nuclear power programme to commercialise the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor built at Kalpakkam. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is responsible for the design of this reactor as a successor for Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).[1] The 1st twin unit would come up within the BHAVINI premises at Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam, close to the PFBR site itself.

Designed to "burn" a mixture of uranium oxide and plutonium oxide to generate 600 MWe of power each, current plans involve building six units, co-locating two at any given place. This arrangement would facilitate cost-rationalisation, using common auxiliaries to serve both reactors.[1]

Core loading of PFBR commensed on 4 March 2024 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[2]

Design features

According to the research conducted at IGCAR, the improved design concepts indicated significant economic advantages by reducing material inventory by 25%, simplifying fuel handling scheme and by reducing manufacture time with enhanced safety parameters.

Safety features

CFBR designs mentions a new and improved decay heat removal (DHR) system, reactor shutdown system from its predecessor PFBR. Passive safety features include new hydraulically suspended absorber rods (HSAR) which fall into the core under the influence of gravity if coolant flow is lost, and the inclusion of an ultimate shutdown system (USD) which would use pressurized gas to forcefully inject neutron poisons directly into the core to halt re-criticality incidents.[3]

Reactor fleet

Power station Operator Location Status Operation start
PFBR (Prototype) BHAVINI Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu completed 2024[4]
FBR-1 Planned
FBR-2 Planned

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "FBR-600 – India's Next-gen Commercial Fast Breeder Reactor [CFBR]". AA Me, IN. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ^ "PM Modi witnesses commencement of Core Loading at India's first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu". newsonair.gov.in. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ Chellapandi, P.; Rao, P R Vasudeva; Kumar, Prabhat (2015). "Fast reactor programme in India". Pramana. 85 (3): 525–538. Bibcode:2015Prama..85..525C. doi:10.1007/s12043-015-1069-6. S2CID 119688291.
  4. ^ Patel, Sonal (2 April 2024). "Long-Awaited Milestone: Fuel Loading Begins at India's Prototype Fast Nuclear Reactor". POWER Magazine. Retrieved 23 August 2024.