DAE designs model thorium-based reactor for nuclear power production

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has developed the design for a 300 MWe Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) that is capable of generating most of its power from thorium-based fuel, as a technology demonstrator.

DAE has been operating a research reactor `Kamini' at Kalpakkam using uranium-233 fuel obtained from irradiated thorium since 1996, minister of science and technology and earth sciences Prithviraj Chavan informed the Rajya Sabha today.

DAE, he said, has undertaken a range of activities pertaining to systems and technologies relevant for thorium utilisation during the XIth plan period. It has also completed the design and development of main nuclear systems of AHWR, he added.

"Large scale engineering experiments for the simulation of important thermal hydraulic parameters of its natural circulation driven cooling system have led to a better understanding of various associated phenomena," the minister said.

Nuclear power generation capacity in the country is expected to increase from the current 4340 MW to 7280 MW progressively by the March 2012 with the completion of projects under construction, he said.

An additional capacity of 2800 MW has been approved in the year 2009 while more projects are planned to be built during the 13th Plan, Chavan said.

The projects under construction are at an advanced stage of completion and would require funds to the tune of Rs3,619 crore in the next two years (2010-11 and 2011-12) for completion, he said, adding that this would be met through a combination of internal resources, market borrowings and budgetary support.