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Thorium based nuclear reactor designed by Indian scientists
Bangalore, Jan 04: Indian atomic scientists have designed a novel 300 mw nuclear reactor that will allow the country to utilise its thorium reserves earlier than expected, chairman of the atomic energy commission Anil Kakodkar said today.
Bangalore, Jan 04: Indian atomic scientists have designed a novel 300 mw nuclear reactor that will allow the country to utilise its thorium reserves earlier than expected, chairman of the atomic energy commission Anil Kakodkar said today.
Construction of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) with new safety features will begin in two years, he told the ongoing 90th session of the Indian Science Congress. "With this, we will start unleashing the huge potential of thorium," he said. The safety features of AHWR will be such it could function for as long as three days without operator`s intervention.
The AHWR design is currently going through regulatory review process, he said.
Kakodkar said that India`s first 500 mw fast breeder reactor is going through inter-ministerial review. Though it is a prototype, the idea is to put it in the commercial mode from the beginning, he said.
Kakodkar said that the atomic energy department has also launched a national programme on Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) that can help burn thorium to produce nuclear power.
He said that ads will help further advance introduction of thorium in the Indian nuclear energy scene.
Nuclear energy was favoured by principal scientific adviser to Government of India R Chidambaram, secretary in the Union Ministry of power R V Shahi, secretary in the Department of Science and Technology V S Ramamurthy and director of Institute of Plasma Research P K Kaw.
Shahi called for "some kind of arrangement" with private sector in the nuclear power sector.
He also emphasised the need for having more players in supply of and service in the power sector, saying that competitive environment is extremely important.
Secretary in the department of ocean development Harsh K Gupta said that gas hydrates -- crystalline form of water and methane molecules that form a high pressure and moderately cooled temperature -- are clearly going to be a future energy source for India.
"It (gas hydrates) is an energy source where India can lead the world," he said.
Ramamurthy said that the time is ripe to have a national discussion on hydrogen energy and a road-map for the sector in India.
Bureau Report
Construction of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) with new safety features will begin in two years, he told the ongoing 90th session of the Indian Science Congress. "With this, we will start unleashing the huge potential of thorium," he said. The safety features of AHWR will be such it could function for as long as three days without operator`s intervention.
The AHWR design is currently going through regulatory review process, he said.
Kakodkar said that India`s first 500 mw fast breeder reactor is going through inter-ministerial review. Though it is a prototype, the idea is to put it in the commercial mode from the beginning, he said.
Kakodkar said that the atomic energy department has also launched a national programme on Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) that can help burn thorium to produce nuclear power.
He said that ads will help further advance introduction of thorium in the Indian nuclear energy scene.
Nuclear energy was favoured by principal scientific adviser to Government of India R Chidambaram, secretary in the Union Ministry of power R V Shahi, secretary in the Department of Science and Technology V S Ramamurthy and director of Institute of Plasma Research P K Kaw.
Shahi called for "some kind of arrangement" with private sector in the nuclear power sector.
He also emphasised the need for having more players in supply of and service in the power sector, saying that competitive environment is extremely important.
Secretary in the department of ocean development Harsh K Gupta said that gas hydrates -- crystalline form of water and methane molecules that form a high pressure and moderately cooled temperature -- are clearly going to be a future energy source for India.
"It (gas hydrates) is an energy source where India can lead the world," he said.
Ramamurthy said that the time is ripe to have a national discussion on hydrogen energy and a road-map for the sector in India.
Bureau Report