NUCLEAR INDIA JAN JUNE 2011 ver 13 - Atoms in the · PDF fileNuclear India Vol.44 /No.7-12/...

Nuclear IndiaVol.44 /No.7-12/ Jan-June 2011

Website : www.dae.gov.in ISSN-09929-5523

“Tarapur, itself is an outstanding example of nuclear energy’s

capacity to provide the clean, safe and economical energy

that our nation requires for its development and growth.”

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurates the Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant-2 at

Tarapur, in Maharashtra on January 07, 2011

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh during inauguration of the

P o wer Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant-2 at Tarapur

Details Inside

“I am delighted to be present at the historic occasion of the commissioning of the second Power

Reactor Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur. This is a significant milestone in our country’s three-stage

indigenous nuclear programme. I heartily congratulate the scientists and engineers who were involved

in the design, construction and commissioning of this unique complex and state of the art facility. This

is yet another instance that once we make up our mind, India can do anything. We have come a long

way since the first reprocessing of spent fuel in India in the year 1964 at Trombay. The recycling and

optimal utilization of Uranium is essential to meet our current and future energy security needs. The

vision of the founding fathers of our nuclear programme, Jawaharlal Nehru and Homi Bhabha, was to

achieve the mastery of the complete fuel cycle, thus enabling India to use our vast and abundant

thorium resources in advanced nuclear power reactors. The reprocessing of spent fuel is therefore the

key to our three stage indigenous nuclear power programme. Reprocessing is essential in the transition

to the second stage of fast breeder reactors which we have begun, and in the subsequent third stage

using thorium in advanced reactors. Reprocessing spent fuel will also ensure that we are better able to

manage the wastes which are by-products of the nuclear fuel cycle. Tarapur, itself is an outstanding

example of nuclear energy’s capacity to provide the clean, safe and economical energy that our nation

requires for its development and growth. This site is home to the oldest boiling water reactors in the

world. Here we have built our own reactors as well. And we have subsequently added the entire range

of facilities covering the entire fuel cycle from fuel fabrication to reprocessing and waste

immobilization. Taken together, the atomic energy programme of India represents a very important

and significant step towards technological and energy self-reliance and security. That we have done so

by the efforts of our own scientists and engineers is tribute to the vision of the founders of our atomic

energy programme. Given the advanced status of our indigenous programme and the capabilities of

our scientists and engineers we can now confidently utilize the new opportunities that have been

created with the opening up of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. As we move

forward in the years to come to realize the potential of atomic energy to contribute to our nation’s

development I would urge that we pay greater attention to capacity building, training and nurturing

young and fresh talent which is in abundant supply in our country. I once again congratulate all those

who have played a role in this important landmark and who have contributed to the development of

our capabilities in atomic energy. In their own way, each one of our scientists and engineers engaged in

this very important national projects are nation builders. I commend you all for your dedication and

your hard work and your commitment to the goal of our national development. I wish you even greater

success in your service to our nation. I think each one of you on this historic occasion.”

Hon’ble Prime Minister’s address at the Commissioning of the PowerReactor Fuel Processing Plant

Nuclear Energy has a crucial role to play inachieving the objectives of sustainable economicgrowth of India that needs several fold increase ininstalled electricity generating capacity ensuringfood security and providing healthcare and potablewater to the masses. Nuclear energy for powergeneration, use of the nuclear tools and techniquesin industry, applications of nuclear energy indiagnosis and treatment of diseases, nucleartechnologies for crop improvement, foodpreservation, and water treatment, and many of itsother applications, establish it as an indispensableresource for the nation.

The Nuclear Energy Programme of theDepartment of Atomic Energy (DAE), focuses onthe use of water cooled reactors, fast breederreactors and thorium based reactors for powergeneration, and development and deployment ofadvanced technologies and radiation technologiesfor various applications in industry, agriculture,healthcare and research. The basic research beingdone by the research & development organizationsof DAE, contributes to the expanding domains ofknowledge. The Department is also engaged inenriching the knowledge and skills of its humanresource. The vision, activities and mandate onwhich its programmes are based, are outlined in theCitizen's Charter in this Report.

During the year of report, the Programme of theDepartment has registered many impressiveachievements alongwith accelerated growth in allits segments, as detailed below.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.(NPCIL), a public sector undertaking of DAE, is

responsible for the design, construction,commissioning and operation of nuclear powerreactors.

With 20 operating reactors (2 boiling waterreactors and 18 pressurised heavy water reactors),the total installed nuclear power generating capacityin the country is now 4780 MWe. Currently, acapacity of 3400 is under construction andconstruction of 1400 will soon commencewith the first pour of concrete in RAPP-7&8.

During the year of report, NPCIL registeredsignificant achievements in generation, capacityaddition, Renovation & Modernisation (R&M),progress in projects and pre-project activities at newsites, and posted improved financial performance.

NPCIL achieved power generation of 23,272million units - the highest ever, in the year 2010.This was an increase of 37% over the powergeneration in the previous year. For the currentfinancial year 2010-11, the power generation uptoDecember 31, 2010 was 18,012 million units.

NPCIL set yet another record of generating about98 million units in a day. The 540 MWe TAPS-3attained full power level of operation for the firsttime in January 2011. NPCIL's operating reactorsMAPS-2 and TAPS-2 recorded continuousoperation of more than a year without outage.During the year 2010, thirteen of the seventeenoperating units achieved availability factor of morethan 85%. The overall availability factor for the yearwas 88%. For the calendar year 2010, the CapacityFactor increased to 66% as against 56% in the year2009. The operating reactors have registered over322 reactors years of safe operation so far.

With the completion of three reactors viz.

MWeMWe

Power generation

CapacityAddition

NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME :STAGE - 1

PRESSURISED HEAVYWATER REACTORS

MILESTONES 2010-2011

3

RAPS-5&6 and Kaiga-4, each of 220MWe, NPCILadded 660 MWe to its power generation capacityraising the installed capacity to 4780 MWe.

Both the reactor units of Kudankulam NuclearPower Project-1&2 (2x1000 MWe), being set up intechnical collaboration with Russian Federation,reached an advanced stage of commissioning.Unit-1 is expected to be in operation by March 2011,with Unit-2 following closely.

NPCIL also launched four new 700indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors -- twoeach at Kakrapar, Gujarat (KAPP-3&4) andRawatbhata, Rajasthan (RAPP-7&8). At KAPP-3&4, first pour of concrete was carried out, and atRAPP-7&8 excavation work reached advancedstage of completion. With the first pour of concrete

at RAPP-7&8, the capacity under construction willbe raised to 4800 M e.

For Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project-3&4(2x1000 ), early-works and various pre-project activities made progress.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest gaveenvironmental clearance for the Jaitapur NuclearPower Project-1&2 (2x1650 MWe). NPCIL alsoinitiated action in respect of bio-diversityconservation plan for the site. For this Project, theearly-works-agreement was signed withM/s AREVA, France.

Pre-project activities commenced at the fourgreen field sites namely Gorakhpur (Haryana) andChutka (Madhya Pradesh) for indigenous 700PHWRs, and Kovvada (Andhra Pradesh) andChhaya Mithi-virdi (Gujarat) for 1000 orlarger capacity light water reactors underinternational cooperation All these are steps

Projects Under construction & New Projects

MWe

an

W

MWe

MWe

MWe

.

A view of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project -1&2

4


towards reaching installed nuclear power capacityof about 60 GWe by 2032.

NPCIL carried out renovation & modernization,and in-core repairs using in house-developed toolsand techniques. En-masse Coolant ChannelReplacement (EMCCR), En-masse FeederReplacement (EMFR) & up-gradation jobs ofreactors were successfully completed at the Unit-2of Narora Atomic Power Station and Unit-1 ofKakraparAtomic Power Station.

During the report period, NPCIL signedfollowing MoUs for setting up:

Nuclear Power Plants in India, with NTPC,Indian Oil Corporation, National AluminiumCorporation, Korea Electric Power Corporationand others.

An Integrated Facility at Hazira for themanufacture of special exotic steels and largesize forgings, with Larsen &Toubro, and

A 600 MWe hydroelectric plant at Malshej GhatwithTehri Hydro-electric Power Corporation

Front-End Fuel Cycle comprises operations suchas mining, milling and processing of ore, andfabrication of fuel. In addition, production of heavywater, used as moderator and coolant in pressurizedheavy water reactors, also constitute a majorprogramme segment of the Nuclear PowerProgramme.

DAE has wide-ranging capabilities in uraniummining and mineral processing, and is self-sufficient in the production of heavy water,zirconium alloy components and other relatedmaterials and supplies for pressurised heavy waterreactors. The Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderabadmanufactures fuel assemblies for pressurised heavywater reactors, boiling water reactors and fastbreeder reactor.

The Heavy Water Board is responsible forproduction of heavy water for the Indian PHWRs. Itis also engaged on the development anddemonstration of technological feasibility ofvarious processes for the products required for theFront and Back End operations of the Nuclear FuelCycle.

The performance of the operating Heavy WaterPlants was very satisfactory during the report

Renovation & Modernisation

Partnership & Diversification

z

z

z

FRONT END FUELCYCLE

Heavy Water Production

First Pour of Concrete in progress at KAPP-3&4

Solar Evaporator for steam generationat the Heavy Water Plant, Kota

5


period, and the capacity utilization of the plantsexceeded 100%. The Board bagged the sixteenthexport order for supply of 11 metric tonnes of heavywater to KHNP, South Korea.

In the first quarter of this period, the Plants atManuguru and Kota had faced constrainedoperations of their cooling towers. However, therevamping work was carried out successfully, thatresulted in improvement in production and specificenergy consumption (Gj/kg) at these plants.

The Manuguru Plant achieved a cumulativepercentage target production of 98.3%. Also,subsequent to commissioning of the DistributedControl System (DCS), the Kota Plant operatedsmoothly and achieved a cumulative percentagetarget of 96.5%. Both these plants areexpected to achieve their target production. Anexcellent performance was registered by the HaziraPlant by achieving a cumulative percentage target

of over 106%, the Thal Plant recorded avery good performance by achieving around 89.3%

of its targeted production, and the Baroda Plantcontinued to produce heavy water satisfactorily.

As a part of its energy conservation endeavour,the Heavy Water Board implemented variousenergy saving schemes. As a result of the energyconservation measures taken, and due tostabilization of the captive power plant, the surplusof the power generated at Manuguru Plant, wasregularly exported to APTRANSCO. The energyconservation efforts at the Kota Plant includederection of 4 solar dishes of solar based steamgeneration system and installation of VFDs(Variable Frequency Drives). Installation of anAuxiliary Turbo-generator to generate 2 MWepower by recovering energy from throttling ofsteam, was in progress here. At the Thal Plant, themeasures taken resulted in increasing the gasthroughput.

As a part of the diversification programme of theHeavy Water Board, a Solvent Extraction TestFacility was set up at Talcher for testing various

production

production

Boron Exchange Distillation Plant at Heavy Water Plant, Talcher

6


solvents. The Industrial Facility set up here toproduce enriched Boron for fast breeder reactors,and detector grade Boron, continued to provideenriched KBF to the Elemental Boron Plant at

Manuguru, and detector grade enriched Boron inthe form of CaF -BF complex, to BARC and ECIL.

Efforts to establish various synthesis routes forproduction of organo phosphorous solventscontinued at the Tuticorin Plant. The Bench scalesolvent synthesis set up here continued to producehigh purity chemical DHOA and successfullysynthesized TOPO for bench scale solventextraction plant. Setting up of a Versatile SolventSynthesis Pilot plant for production of solvents TriIso Amyl Phosphate (TIAP), Diethyl HexylPhosphon ic acid Mono Die thyl Hexy lEster(D2EHPA-II) and Dihexyl Octanamide(DHOA) continued at the Tuticorin Plant.Scaled-up Tri Butyl Phosphate Plant (130MT/ yearcapacity) at Baroda was under final stages ofcommissioning.

Production of more than 15 ton/yr of nucleargrade upgraded heavy water was achieved atTrombay

During the field season 2009-10, the AtomicMinerals Directorate for Exploration and Research(AMD) accelerated the pace of its explorationactivities with focused approach to meet the XI Plantargets. The major achievements were as as follows :

Uranium Investigations by AMD established22,466 tonnes (U O ) of additional uranium

resources at Tummalapalle and Chitrial (both inAndhra Pradesh), Rohil (Rajasthan), andUmthongkut (Meghalaya). With this India'suranium resources now stand updated to 1,62,762tonnes of .

Drilling of over 217,500 m was carried out toestablish additional uranium resources in the knownoccurrences and subsurface continuity of

mineralisation in the new promising areas.Significant mineralised intercepts / bands were

identified in boreholes drilled at Tummalapalle andadjoining blocks, Chitrial and Koppunuru (AndhraPradesh); Deshnur and Gogi-Darshnapur(Karnataka); Rohil and its extensions (Rajasthan) ;Wahkut and Umthongkut (Meghalaya).

Exploratory mining at Gogi, Gulburga district,Karnataka was initiated on 18 June, 2007 by UCILon behalf of AMD. A progress of 181m in shaftsinking, including 59 m of current field season, wasachieved.

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited(UCIL) mines and processes uranium ore forpressurized heavy water reactors.

UCIL operates five underground mines atJaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih &Bagjata; one open cast mine at Banduhurang, andtwo processing plants at Jaduguda andTuramdih, allin Jharkhand state.

To meet the increased demand of uranium, thecorporation took up construction of MohuldihUranium Mining Project in the Saraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand. Turamdihprocessing plant was also under expansion.Construction work of Tummalapalle UraniumMining & Milling Project in Andhra Pradesh wasapproaching com plet ion. Expansion ofTummalapalle uranium project and a new uraniummining and milling project at Gogi in Karnataka,were at pre-project stage.

UCIL has also proposed to take up Uranium oremining and milling project at Lambapur in AndhraPradesh and Uranium ore mining and millingproject at Kylleng Pyndengsohiong, Mawthabah inMeghalaya for which pre-project activities werecontinued. The project construction will start afterdue approval from the Government of India.

The Nuclear Fuel Complex fabricated andsupplied fuel bundles for pressurised heavy waterreactors and boiling water reactors of NPCIL. Itcompleted processing of imported uranium material

4

2 3

3 8

Heavy Water Upgrading

U O3 8

Mineral Exploration and Mining

Fuel Fabrication

7


to meet the fuel requirements of KAPS-1&2, andprocessed Magnesium Di-Uranate (MDU) receivedfrom UCILto supply fuel for NAPS-1 & KAIGA-4.

Also, NFC achieved highest ever production ofPHWR fuel bundles, zirconium sponge, PHWR fueltubes & niobium metal.

At NFC, manufacturing of critical componentsfor various sub-assemblies, to meet thecommissioning schedules of 500 MWe PFBR,progressed. With the commissioning ofindigenously developed pilger mills, production offuel tubes was enhanced.

For production of reactor grade zirconiumsponge, NFC commissioned a new ZirconiumComplex .

NFC presented the data generated during trialproduction at Zirconium Complex, Pazhayakayal toAERB for obtaining operation consent.

NFC successfully executed an order receivedfrom IAEA against global competition for themanufacture, supply, erection and commissioningof fuel element end-cap welding unit for TurkishAtomic EnergyAuthority.

At Trombay, production of uranium metal ingots

Fuel for Research Reactors

Nuclear Fuel Complex : Dispatch of fuel to KAIGA-4

Indigenously developed pilger mill

8


for research reactor Dhruva and PurnimaSub-critical facility continued. Low densityburnable poison rod (BPR) materials were producedusing different processes.

Plutonium Plant, Trombay and KARP,Kalpakkam were regularly operated.

A new reprocessing plant called ROP(Revamping of PREFRE) was constructed atTarapur for carrying out the reprocessing of powerreactor fuel. To reprocess spent fuel from researchreactors operation of Plutonium Plant,Trombay wascontinued.

Storage of spent fuel from MAPS in Spent FuelStorage Facility (SFSF) at Kalpakkam and itsprocessing at KARPfacility, were continued.

Waste Management Facilities at Trombay andKalpakkam operated safely. Discharge of activity tothe environment was kept well below the prescribedlimits set by regulatory bodies.

The recycling and optimal utilization of uraniumis essential to meet India's current and future energysecurity needs. Towards this end, a significantmilestone in the country's three-stage nuclear

energy programme was achieved with thecommissioning of the second Power ReactorReprocessing Plant by BARC atTarapur.

Recently, work on setting up of an IntegratedNuclear Recycle Plant with facilities for bothreprocessing of spent fuel and waste management,also commenced at Kalpakkam.

At the Waste Immobilisation Plant, Kalpakkam,

the trials on second ceramic melter were started.

The Research and Development support to the

Nuclear Power Programme is provided by the

research centres of DAE.BARC successfully developed a tool for remote

in-situ pressure tube inside diameter measurements

using existing Fuelling Machines. For in-service

inspection of coolant channels, the Centre also

delivered 6 Channel Inspection System (BARCIS)

units to NPCIL. Now every 220 MWe PHWR site is

equipped with one BARCIS unit.A scaled up version of a prototype Electro-

Chemical Filter was designed at Trombay to remove

Iron and Silica turbidity in secondary cooling water

at PHWR power plants. Commissioning of the pin-

by-pin core diffusion code HEXPIN was an

BACK END FUELCYCLE

Fuel Reprocessing andWaste Management

R&D SUPPORTTO POWER SECTOR

BARCIS 540 Drive Mechanism

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhunveiling the plaque to inaugurate the

Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant-2 atTarapur, in Maharashtra on January 07, 2011

9


important development.BARC provided its technical and analytical

support for the ageing management activities,

to NPCIL.

Personal monitoring services for external

radiation were provided to about 23,000 radiation

workers working in DAE through the BARC

Laboratories at Trombay, Tarapur and Hyderabad.To meet the growing demand of Radon and

Thoron monitoring in nuclear fuel cycle facility and

the environment, different types of application

specific online Radon and Thoron monitors were

developed at BARC.BARC developed an optically stimulated

luminescence (OSL) phosphor. Based on this, a

new four element OSL dosimeter badge and a

prototype OSL dosimeter badge reader were

developed. These badges were given to various

facilities for trial.BARC has deve loped sol ar-powered

Environmental Radiation Monitor for open field

installation. Fifty such monitors have been installed

at different places in the country.

BARC carried out studies to assess the impact of

the oil spill that occurred on August 7, 2010 on

Mumbai bay. Continuous analysis of oil & grease in

sea water samples collected was carried out and the

data was submitted to the Maharashtra Pollution

Control Board.Bench-top and portable continuous radon

monitors were developed. These indigenousinstruments are based on electrostatic collection andscintillation cell principles, and are more efficientand cost competitive.

The nodal Emergency Response Centre (ERC) atBARC responded quickly to the radiologicalincident that occurred at Mayapuri, Delhi. Theresponse team was also assisted by ERC Delhi,Narora, National Disaster Response Force andAERB in identifying and locating the Co-60 sourceand safely securing and transporting them in theshielded flasks to Narora.

During the report period, ECIL suppliedequipment worth over Rs. 230 crore toCommonwealth Games. A large number ofpersonnel from various security agencies in thecountry were trained on detection of any radiationsources and mitigation of any radiation emergency.In addition, during the games, a team of radiationscientists was deputed at the venue for radiationsurveillance.

The second stage of the nuclear powergeneration programme aims at setting up of fastreactors. These reactors produce more fuel than theyconsume.

For the design and development of liquid sodiumcooled fast breeder reactors, along with thedevelopment of the associated fuel cycletechnologies, the responsibility lies with the IndiraGandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR). The

HEALTH SAFETY& ENVIRONMENT

NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME :STAGE-2

FAST BREEDER REACTORS

IERMON:Complete system with solar panel,GM tube and battery

10


fast breeder reactor programme being pursued bythe Centre, is supported by research anddevelopment in a variety of disciplines includingreactor engineering, chemistry, metallurgy, materialscience, safety, control and instrumentation. TheFast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam, also catersto technology development related to fast reactors.

The Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited(BHAVINI) has been constructing the 500MWePrototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) atKalpakkam. This reactor is based on the fastbreeder reactor technology developed at IGCAR.

BARC contributes to the research, developmentand manufacture of fuels for fast reactors,technology for reprocessing of fuels, wastemanagement and health and safety of the workforce.

The PFBR has reached an advanced stage ofconstruction.

PFBR's entire civil structural works of ElectricalBuilding-1&2, Control Building, RadioactiveWaste Building, Fuel Building, Steam GeneratorBuilding-1&2 were completed. The roof of ReactorContainment Building was completed partially. ThePeripheral Buildings surrounding NICB (NuclearIsland Connected Buildings) were also completed.

Subsequent to the erection of safety vessel inreactor vault, the main vessel along with corecatcher and core support structure was erectedinside, suspended on vertical tie rods. Thermalbaffle was lowered inside main vessel and welded tomain vessel. Grid plate along with primary pipe andinner vessel was installed.

The Balance of Plant (BOP) civil constructionprogressed. The construction of indoor GasInsulated Switchyard was completed & pre-commissioning works were under progress.

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

PFBR Project : Overall view of Power Island

11


For PFBR, the manufacture of inner vessel, roof

slab, large & small rotatable plugs, two steam

generators, four intermediate heat exchangers, one

secondary sodium pump and additional primary

ramp and primary tilting mechanism of inclined fuel

transfer machine, were completed.The project achieved an overall physical

progress of 63% at the end of November-2010.

The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at

Kalpakkam completed 25 years of operation in

October, 2010. During the period of report, the 16th

irradiation campaign was completed and the reactor

operated at 18 MWt with the turbogenerator

synchronized to the grid, generating 3.2 MWe.

Steam temperatures, as high as 733 K could be

realized.As part of the fuel development programme, test

irradiation continued on high plutonia mixed oxide

(44%).

Plutonium bearing fuels for the Fast Reactor

Programme are supplied by BARC. The

experimental (U-30%Pu) MOX fuel for PFBR

enriched with Uranium-233 exceeded the designed

burn-up of 100,000 MWd/t. Experimental

conditions were optimised to prepare mixed

(U,Pu)O microspheres by sol-gel process. Oxide2

Fast BreederTest Reactor

FBR Fuels

PFBR Grid Plate

Reaction Chamber

Water Reservoir Condenser

Sodium

Sodium Carbonate

Pilot plant facility for sodium cleaning

12


dispersion strengthened ferritic martensitic steel

tubes were developed for fuel clad-tube application.

Successful campaigns of FBTR spent fuelreprocessing in CORAL facility at Kalpakkam,provided valuable information on the operation andmaintenance of centrifugal extractor and centrifuge.Detailed Project Report for FRFCF (Fast ReactorFuel Cycle Facility) was submitted for obtainingfinancial sanction.

The spent mixed carbide fuel from the FastBreeder Test Reactor (FBTR) with a burn-up of 155GWd/t, was reprocessed in the CORAL facility. Thefissile material was re-fabricated as fuel and loadedback into the reactor. This marked the successfulclosing of the fast reactor fuel cycle.

To ensure the manufacturing feasibility ofinnovative components, manufacturing technologydevelopment exercises were undertaken for thickplate narrow gap welding and welded grid plate.

At Trombay, the major components of theInclined Fuel Transfer Machine for PFBR weremanufactured.

Development of oil-less active magneticbearings for centrifugal sodium pumps, ultrasonicwaveguide for high temperature applications,ultrasonic technique for detection of sub-assemblyprotrusion in PFBR were completed at Kalpakkam.

SADHANA - a sodium loop for testing of PFBRsafety grade decay heat removal in sodium wascommissioned and experiments qualified thecomponent and system design.

Development of single board data acquisition,remote terminal and distributed digital controlsystem for PFBR, were the major activities towardselectronics and instrumentation.

As a part of an IAEA international collaborative

Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing

FBR Related Technologies

(U Pu )O microspheres sinteredat 1450 C (BARC)

0.47 0.53, 2o

Uranium metal deposited ona solid cathode ( IGCAR)

New fabrication line of Advanced FuelFabrication Facility for PFBR (BARC)

13


project for the design of future fast breeder reactors,

reactor assembly design concepts were completed

at IGCAR.To visualize the models of fast breeder reactors

and associated fuel cycle facilities, an advanced

visualization centre, a world-class fully immersive

system was commissioned at IGCAR.

BARC is developing a 300 MWe Advanced

Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), that is a thorium

fuelled reactor with several advanced passive safety

features. Other advanced reactor systems such as

Compact High Temperature Reactor, Accelerator

Driven Subcritical System are also under

development at this Centre.The major developments carried out in this

programme domain, were the following :

The full scale Integral Test Loop for the

Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) was

augmented with an additional 3 MW instrumented

fuel rod cluster simulator developed inhouse. This

facility will serve as a test bed for validation of

many new techniques.A semitransparent 1/6th linear scaled

experimental setup of AHWR calandria was

designed, fabricated and installed for moderator

flow distribution studies.The design of the equilibrium core of AHWR

was finalised.Critical Facility for Advanced Heavy Water

Reactor (AHWR) and 540 MWe PHWR was

operated for various experiments.The Passive Poison Injection System in AHWR,

that fulfills the shutdown function in the event of

failure of wired shutdown systems, was designed,

developed and tested under simulated conditions.Impregnated Agglomeration Process was

developed at BARC for the fabrication of (Th-U)O

fuel for AHWR. Thoria fuel clusters were also

fabricated for carrying out experiments in AHWR-

Critical Facility.Setting up of AHWR Thermal-Hydraulic Test

Facility continued at the R&D Center, Tarapur,

2

NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME :STAGE - 3

THORIUM BASED REACTORS

Advanced Heavy Water Reactor

Active Magnetic Bearings. Use of thesebearings eliminates chances of accidental

spillage of oil into sodium circuit

Ultrasonic technique for detectionof Sub-Assembly protrusion

14


Test facility for moderator flow and liquid poison distribution studies

Schematic of Compact High Temperature Reactor (CHTR)

15


OtherReactor Systems

High Temperature ReactorProgramme

At BARC, Compact High Temperature Reactor(CHTR) physics design simulations wereperformed with new design modifications.

Development of fuel tubes of CHTR usingceramic matrix composites was taken up.

As a part of the Accelerator Driven Subcritical

Systems (ADS), an Electron Cyclotron ResonanceMicrowave Ion Source is under development atBARC. During the report period, mechanicaldesigns of its critical systems were completed. Thefirst trial assembly of the Ion Source was also done.

SEM image of the TRISO-coated particle produced in the spouted bed reactor

A 600 mm long Prototype ofRadiofrequency Quadrupole (RFQ) fabricated and

characterized for its RF parameters. This is a partof high power accelerator developmental

for ADS programme at BARC.

Prototype of fuel tube of CHTRmade of high density graphite

16


ADVANCEDTECHNOLOGIES

Research Reactors

Accelerators

The research reactors Dhruva and CIRUScompleted 25 years and 50 years of their operationsrespectively. These reactors have been extensivelyused for isotope production, basic research, materialtesting and human resource development.

During the report period, CIRUS reactor wasgenerally operated at 20 MWt. Power was raised tohigher levels as and when required, for sampleirradiation and experiments. The reactor has beenshut down permanently.

Research reactor Dhruva continued to operatewith availability factor of more than 72%. As a partof the XI plan project, all the 144 coolant channelflow monitoring differential pressure gauges inDhruva were replaced with Electronic DifferentialPressure Indicating Switches (EDPIS).

Apsara reactor was de-commissioned to makeway for its new and upgraded version. The newversion of APSARA will have several advancedfeatures and core capability to deliver 2MWthpower.

The Critical Facility for AHWR and 540 MWePHWR was extensively used for variousexperiments.At BARC, various core configurationsfor the proposed High Flux Research Reactor wereworked out for optimum design.

The Superconducting Cyclotron at the VariableEnergy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) successfullyaccelerated several internal beams up to theextraction radius. The Cyclotron along with theother subsystems, was getting ready to deliver beamfor experiments.

The rejuvenated Room Temperature Cyclotroncontinued to provide high quality stable alpha andproton beams for nuclear physics and materialscience experiments. The machine is the primaryaccelerator for the upcoming Radioactive Ion Beam(RIB) Facility atVECC.

For micro-machining applications, a plasma ionsource based Focused Ion Beam system wasd e v e l o p e d . A lo w e n e r g y h e a v y i o nirradiation/implantation facility was also developedfor materials science and atomic physics research.

A Low Energy Heavy Ion Irradiation /Implantation facility was developed at Trombay formaterials science and atomic physics research.

For the understanding of the physics of short-lived atomic nuclei, advanced accelerators such asRadio Frequency Quadrupole and IH Linacs, weredeveloped at VECC. With the availability of alphabeam from the upgraded, K-130 cyclotron, variousexperimental programmes were taken up at VECC.

New Electronic Differential PressureIndicating Switches (EDPIS) gauge of Dhruva

Industrial Computed Tomographyset up at BARC

17


For energizing superconducting cavities ofProton Linac, a 30 kW (CW), 650 MHz solid stateamplifier was under development at RRCAT. TheCentre also developed a Centrifugal BarrelPolishing Machine for smoothening the insidesurface of superconducting radio frequency cavitiesto achieve high accelerating gradients.

For upgradation of the dipole magnets of the 700MeV Booster ring, two pre-prototype laminated,sector type dipole magnets were developed, andSeptum magnets for Indus-2 storage ring, wereassembled with alumina coated coils.

A new technology of electron beam curedpolymer sheets that can be moulded at hightemperature, was developed and demonstrated byBARC. This Centre also established an IndustrialComputed Tomography (ICT) unit that providesvital image details such as defect sizing, location,2D and 3D imaging. At the BARC's Electron Beam

Centre, Navi Mumbai, accelerator beam wasemployed for demonstrating industrial applicationssuch as cross-linking of poly-ethylene, diamondcolouration, Teflon degradation and production ofphoto-neutrons. Material irradiation studies werealso conducted.

RRCAT developed a number of lasers forindustrial applications during the report period. Fordrilling of holes, metal cutting and welding a 10 kWpeak power pulsed industrial Nd:YAG laser with500 W average power, and for surface cleaningapplications a short pulse duration Nd:YAG laserfor surface cleaning applications were developed.Successful development of a Copper-HyBrID laserw i th a v e r a ge la s e r p ow er of 11 0 W

LaserTechnology DevelopmentandApplications

Superconducting Cyclotron at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre

18


was also achieved.A 80 W continuous wave green beam generation

Nd:YAG/KTP based laser was successfullydemonstrated. Another 455 mW/Facet continuouswave semiconductor laser emitted 980 nm light.Terahertz spontaneous emission was observed inthe Compact Ultrafast Terahertz Free ElectronLaser (CUTE-FEL) being built at RRCAT.

Good quality transparent single crystals oflithium gadolinium borate and sodium yttriumtungstet were grown at BARC.

A high precision Servo Hydraulic Motor wasdeveloped by BARC. This motor has potential usein low speed precise position control applicationssuch as high payload robotic manipulators. Also, tocontrol many rotary/linear hydraulic actuators,multi-axis Digital Servo-Controller Cards were

Robotics

80 W Continuous Wave Green Laser in a Z-cavity

Undoped Li Gd(BO ) crystal6 3 3

19


Multi Axis Servo Control Card for robotic applications

Slave and Master Arms of the Telerobot developed at BARC

20


developed and successfully deployed. These cardsare a good substitute for the imported ones.

For surveillance of a location under fire, aninexpensive Surveillance Robot was developed atBARC. With a transmission limit of 100 metres, thisdevice gives the fire brigade team a general idea ofthe intensity of the fire, its origin and how to searchout victims.

At VECC, a Mobile Robot in the K-130 RoomTemperature Cyclotron vault and experimentalcaves was deployed to map the dose-profile of thevarious regions around the main machine.

At RRCAT, a major success was of Heliumliquefaction that was achieved with the fullyindigenous Helium Liquefier. A pool type liquidHelium Cryostat, for operating down to 2 Kelvin(-271 deg C) temperature, was also designed anddeveloped at the Centre, and superconducting RFcavities were tested at this temperature.

At VECC, the major achievements in the field ofcryogenics included the Development of 2-stagepulse tube Cryocooler for cryogenic applications;Integration of a new Helium Liquefier, andCommissioning of a novel cryosorption basedHelium Purifier. The Centre also undertook a 3-stage programme of developing SuperconductingMagnetic Energy Storage system.

A cryogenic turbine impeller (size 16 mm,service speed 2,64,000 rpm) was designed anddeveloped at Trombay. Indigenously developedmicro cryo-cooler unit was integrated with handheld thermal imager meant for night vision device.

Today, Radiation Technology, through itsvarious applications, is hugely benefiting the areas

Cryogenics & Recovery of Helium

RADIATION TECHNOLOGY AND THEIRAPPLICATIONS

Helium Liquefaction system developed at RRCAT 16 mm cryogenic turbine impeller

A remote Fire Surveillance Robotdeveloped at Trombay

21


of healthcare, agriculture and water-purification,and industry. BARC, VECC and RRCAT areengaged in the development and applications ofsuch technologies.

Radioisotopes are produced in the researchreactors at Trombay, accelerator at Kolkata and thevarious nuclear power plants of NPCIL. The Boardof Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT)produces and supplies a wide range of radioisotopeproducts, and radiation technology equipment formedical and industrial uses. The Board operatesplants for radiation sterilization of medical productsand radiation processing of spices and alliedproducts. It also offers facility for detection ofradioactivity in products benefitting exporters andimporters.

At BARC, a wide variety of radioisotopes formedical, industrial and research applications wereproduced and supplied. Radioisotopes wereproduced for medical applications as well as forindustrial and research applications.

During the report period,more than 53,000consignments of various radioisotope basedproducts and radiation processing services wereprovided by BRIT to customers in India and abroad,bringing a sales turnover of Rs.55 crore.

Groundnut variety Trombay DharwadGroundnut-39 (TDG-39) was released and notifiedby the Government of India for commercialcultivation. This is a confectionary grade large seedgroundnut variety developed by BARC incollaboration with University of AgriculturalSciences, Dharwad. Two new mutant lentil varieties(Pairy mung and Trombay Jawahar Tur) were alsonotified for commercial cultivation. The totalnumber of mutant crop varieties developed byBARC using nuclear techniques, stand at 39.

The Kombucha tea obtained by fermenting blacktea with the Kombucha culture, showed excellent

healing activity against gastric ulceration in mice.Fifty Nisargaruna solid waste treatment plants

were established at various places by BARC.

Agriculture

Radioisotopes

Trombay groundnut variety, TDG 39

Trombay mungbeanvariety, TM-2000-2

22


FoodTechnology

KRUSHAK Food Irradiation Facility atLasalgaon, near Nashik, Maharashtra iscommercially operated by the Maharashtra StateAgricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), under atripartite MoU signed by BARC, BRIT andMSAMB.

Radiation processing at a dose of 7.5 kGy wasfound to extend shelf life of an antidiabetic herbalformulation upto 18 months without affecting itsmicrobial, biochemical, antioxidant capacity andorganoleptic quality, when stored at ambienttemperature.

RRCAT and the National Bureau of PlantGenetic Resources, pursued seed irradiation studiesusing the 750 keV DC accelerator, to explore thepotential of electron beam irradiation as quarantinedisinfestation treatment against insects and pests inseed.

At Trombay, biodegradable and antimicrobialPackaging Material was prepared and in-vitroexperiments done at BARC on a microbial system,exhibited anti-mutagenic and radio-protectiveproperties of honey.

Sludge Hygienization Research Irradiator(SHRI) facility at Vadodara was operated on round-the-clock basis to hygienise sewage and produce

enriched manure for use at local farms.

Under the Labelled Compounds Programme,

BRIT supplied a wide variety of C, H and S-labelled products, oligonucleotides (DNA primers)and ready-to-use non-radioactive (cold) kits used

for labeling nucleic acid with P-labellednucleotides.

Various types of Tritium Filled light Sourceswere prepared and supplied for defenceapplications. An export order received fromGermany for radiolabelling of isosorbide withCarbon-14 was executed.

JONAKI Laboratory at Hyderabad developed animproved multiplex PCR based M. Tuberculosisdetection kit.

BRIT also introduced two new kits for thepreparation of injections for renal imaging andmyocardial perfusion imaging. It successfullycompleted the contract work for labelling of

14 3 35

32

Nuclear Medicine and Healthcare

99 99mMo- Tc Column Generator Plant

Electron Beam Irradiationof Seeds at RRCAT

23


monoclonal antibody (ch TNT 1/B) with I for aUS firm. Another order from the company isexpected.

More than 58,000 cold kits for formulation of

were supplied by BRIT to various nuclear medicinecentres.

Fifty one batches of Geltech generators wereprocessed and supplied to nuclear medicinehospitals across India. Over 800 generators weresupplied to the users, reflecting a growth of about48% over the previous year.

Over 9000 radioimmunoassay (RIA) andimmunoradiometric assay (IRMA) kits wereproduced and supplied to about 300 immunoassaylaboratories throughout the country. LH IRMA kitwas also introduced in the market.

Major components of the Mo- Tc ColumnGenerator Plant arrived from the Gamma Services,Leipzig, Germany and installation of the Plant wascompleted. The plant will be commissioned shortly.

At the BRIT's Regional Centre, Kolkata,significant progress was made in the MedicalCyclotron Project. A new project of setting up ofmedical use Mo-99 Production Facility for medicaluse, was sanctioned.

Six hospitals in India started therapy of neuro-

endocrine tumours using Lu-DOTA-TATEproduced atTrombay.

BARC successfully developed RadiotherapySimulator technology and installed firstradiotherapy simulator at the Indian Red CrossSociety Hospital, Nellore,Andhra Pradesh.

BARC supplied Fe , Co and Ni sources forresearch work to DRDO, ISRO and IGCAR. Manyof these sources are far less expensive than theimported sources.

RRCAT helped to build a production version ofthe laser that will be used in the treatment oftuberculosis of the lung and the lymph node.

A 5W single-transverse mode Erbium -Ytterbium (Er :Yb) co-doped fibre laser wasdeveloped at RRCAT. This laser will be useful inoptical coherence tomography, microsurgery, skinresurfacing and nonlinear frequency conversion.

In BARC's Radiation Medicine Centre, thedevelopment of synthesis protocols, radiochemicalevaluation and commercial production was carriedout for two Flourine-18 (F-18) containingdiagnostic agents for cancer.

The Regional Radiation Medicine Centre(RRMC) at Kolkata continued to provide nucleardiagnostics service and radio nuclide therapy topatients. Imaging technologies for early detection ofbreast cancer were taken up by VECC.

The Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) andAdvanced Centre for Treatment, Research and

131

99 99m

177

55 57 6399m 99

99m

131 32 51 153

Tc, 410 Ci of Mo (TCM-2) for extraction of

Tc, and approx. 15,000 consignments of ready to

use radiopharmaceuticals of I , P, Cr and Sm

CancerDiagnostic & Treatment services

5 W Erbium -Ytterbium co-doped CW fiber laser at 1564 nm

24


Education in Cancer (ACTREC) continued withtheir activities in diagnosis, treatment, research andeducation in cancer.

As part of the Cancer Prevention Programme,screening services for common cancers wereprovided and a model for Cancer ControlProgrammes for the country was created. The UrbanOutreach Programme in the slums of Mumbai andRural Outreach Programme in the districts ofRatnagiri and Sindhudurg, of Maharashtra,continued. For early detection of oral, breast anduterine cervix cancers among women, the MobileOutreach Programme of TMH endeavoured toreach the slums and under-served areas of Mumbai.The women detected with cancers or pre-cancerswere offered appropriate treatment free of cost. Theproject will cover 1,50,000 low socio-economicpopulation residing in Mumbai.

A National Cancer Grid with the Tata MemorialCentre as the Apex Body and various cancer centreswith 4-5 zonal and regional nodes was proposed toprovide uniform standards of care, trained humanresource, co-ordinated non-repetitive research ofnational and global importance.

For use in the diagnosis and treatment of variouscancers, BRIT supplied Applicator Kits forbrachytherapy, Teletherapy sources and BloodIrradiators to hospitals.

In BARC's Radiation Medicine Centre, thedevelopment of synthesis protocols, radiochemicalevaluation and commercial production was carriedout for two Flourine-18 (F-18) containingdiagnostic agents for cancer.

The technology of Bhabhatron was transferred toa private entrepreneur for mass production andcommercialization. Sixteen Bhabhatrons wereoperational at various cancer hospitals in thecountry. A large number of cancer patients,especially from rural areas, have been benefited bythis development.

The Regional Radiation Medicine Centre(RRMC) at Kolkata continued to provide nucleardiagnostics service and radio nuclide therapy topatients. Imaging technologies for early detection ofbreast cancer was taken up by VECC.

A 5W single-transverse mode Erbium -

Ytterbium (Er :Yb) co-doped fibre laser wasdeveloped at RRCAT. This laser will be useful inoptical coherence tomography, microsurgery, skinresurfacing and nonlinear frequency conversion.

Sealed radiation sources for industrial irradiatorscomprising a total activity of 770 kCi, werefabricated, processed and supplied by BRIT. Morethan 900 radiography sources were fabricated andsupplied with 35 kCi Ir-192 activity.

BRIT supplied and installed Gamma ChamberGC-5000 at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry &Technology, Warsaw, Poland as part of the IAEAorder of US$ 187,990 (Rs.85 L). It also supplied twounits of GC-5000 to ISRO, Bangalore and BARC,Kalpakkam. Two Blood Irradiators were suppliedand installed at Prathama Blood Bank, Ahmedabadand Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.

A new Stainless Steel based ROLI-1 camera wasintroduced and 70 radiography exposure deviceswere supplied by BRIT.

BRIT's ISOMED Plant sterilized about 5400cubic metres of medical products and RadiationProcessing Plant at Vashi processed about20,001,885 MT of spices and allied products.

Considerable progress was made in thecommissioning of Install & Operate Irradiator

Industrial Applications of Radioisotopes& Radiation

Installation of Gamma ChamberGC-5000 at Warsaw, Poland

25


(capacity 400 kCi of Co-60), suitable forradiation processing of frozen marine products.

The industrial applications of lasers developed atRRCAT included Standardization of a LaserSurface peening treatment for enhanced fatigueperformance of automobile components, andmethodology for laser rapid manufacturing ofporous metallic structures.

The 3 MeV DC accelerator was regularlyoperated by BARC and dosimeter films and rubbersamples from a local manufacturer were irradiatedand analysed.

The 2-MeV electron beam accelerator (ILU-6)was operated at full power and was utilized forproviding commercial irradiation services to theindustry.

The 10 MeV RF linear electron accelerator atElectron Beam Centre at Navi Mumbai, wasoperated to establish stable and safe operation.

For tracking the fluid and solid particles inindustrial process systems, a radioactive particleTracking Technique was developed usingScandium-46 source in collaboration with IndianInstitute of Technology, Delhi.

The Isotope Application Services Group carriedout leak detection studies using Br-82 in heatexchangers at three sections of RIL (Patalaganaga).Mo-99 was used to identify leakage in undergroundpipeline of RIL (Jamnagar), Indian Oil CorporationLtd., Sewree Terminal, Mumbai and HPCL,Mumbai. Furnace blockage was detected at HPCL,Mahul. Gamma scanning was done for 3 columns atHPCL Visakhapatnam, 31 T1 process column;Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) atHPCL, Mumbai, and on two vacuum gas oil hydrotreater reactors of DTA refinery of RIL(Patalganga).

BRIT signed MoUs with private parties fromGujarat, Haryana, Chennai and Pune. The RadiationProcessing Plant for Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd.,Bangalore was commissioned with initial 100 kCiof C0-60 activity. BRIT also supplied 200 kCiradiation source to M/s. Jhunsons Chemicals (P)Ltd., Bhiwadi, Rajasthan.

A robotic device Compact LaparoscopeManipulator (CoLaM) for view-control during alaparoscopic surgery was developed at BARC. The

RadioisotopeApplication Services

New Radiation Processing Plants in thePrivate Sector

Electronics & Instrumentation

Compact Laparoscope Manipulator

10 MeV RF Linac System at theElectron Beam Centre at Navi Mumbai

26


first prototype of this device is undergoing fieldtrials.

A facility was setup at BARC for remote controland accessing the synchrotron FIP beamline atGrenoble, France, through the National KnowledgeNetwork (NKN).

A Scanning Electron Microscope (magnification1,50,000) was developed in BARC in associationwith an industry partner. A unique and compactHand Scan Biometric System was also devised forverification of identity of personnel.

Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Plantconsisting of multi-stage flash and reverse osmosissections of 4.5 million litres/ day and 1.8 millionlitres/day capacities respectively, was continuouslyoperated at Kalpakkam.

An Electro-De-Ionisation (EDI) unit wasintegrated to a low temperature evaporation seawater desalination plant for producing electronicgrade ultra-pure water for high end applicationssuch as super-computers.

A comprehensive technology comprising re-generable alumina followed by ultrafiltration wasdeveloped to bring down the fluoride level in waterto 1mg/litre (ppm).

Under the AKRUTI programme of theDepartment, using isotope hydrology techniques, ahuge groundwater source was detected in draughtprone area of Amravati District of Maharashtra.Augmentation of recharge to a few drying springs inHimachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram,Uttaranchal and other regions, were also carried out.

In order to deploy brackish water desalinationtechnology in un-electrified remote areas, RO pilotplant supported by electricity produced throughsolar photo-voltaic panels were designed anddeveloped at Trombay.

Basic and applied research relevant to DAE'sprogramme are carried out in the research centres ofthe Department.The autonomous research institutessupported by the grant-in-aid by DAE, are alsoengaged in basic research, in myriad of disciplinesof fundamental and applied sciences.

Following are the notable developments in thefields of basic and applied research carried outduring the report period, by these researchinstitutes.

Water Desalination

BASIC &APPLIED RESEARCH

Ultra-Filtration (UF) assistedFluoride Removal System

Electro-De-Ionisation unit(capacity: 5000 litres/day)

27


Mathematics & Computation

Physics

A computer code, FIDOM (FIlm DryOutModeling), solves the conservation equations ofmass and energy for liquid film, entrained dropletand a central vapour core. At BARC, appropriatemodels for the entrainment and deposition ofdroplets relevant to BWR conditions wereemployed in FIDOM. The results indicated theappropriateness of these models under the BWRconditions.

At VECC, a modern network infrastructure wasset up with a very high speed backbone. At RRCAT,a high capacity storage array Kshitij-1 wasconfigured.

The dose-profile compilation is of immenseimportance for health physicists. Remote radiationmapping of the K-130 cyclotron at Kolkata wasdone using a mobile robot.

At the Institute of Mathematics, Chennai,researchers carried out TsunamiAnalysis modeling,jo int ly with the Nat iona l Ins t i tu te ofOceanography, Goa.

At Trombay, the indigenously developedSupersonic Molecular Beam Facility was used toinvestigate electronic structures.

Recently, BARC commissioned a PhaseContrast Imaging Facility capable of revealing light

element profile in a matrix of heavy elements, and aNeutron Induced Electron Radiography Facility forinspecting documents, paintings and biologicalsamples.

A new 7-collector Thermal Ionization MassSpectrometer was developed at BARC for use byAMD in high precision isotope ratio measurementsin geo-chronological applications.

3-D structure of an enzyme suitable forbioprecipitation of uranium under alkalineconditions was determined using X-raycrystallography.

High-resolution structure of anenzyme suitable for bioprecipitation of U

Internal Dynamics in SDS Micelles:Neutron Scattering Study

K130 Cyclotron

28


The National Facility for Neutron BeamResearch at Dhruva was regularly utilized. Themolecular dynamics of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate(SDS) micelle was investigated using high-resolution incoherent quasi-elastic neutronscattering technique.

At VECC, Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) Project,progressed considerably. This facility will help inthe understanding of the physics of short-livedatomic nuclei.

Several nuclear physics experiments werecarried out at VECC using the alpha beam forreaction dynamics and nuclear structure studies.

A parametric model was developed to predict

neutron-nucleus total and reaction cross-sectionsaccurately. The photo-fission cross sections ofnuclei executing giant dipole oscillations werecalculated.

The research at the Institute of Physics waspursued in diverse areas. In string theory,a 3-generation supersymmetric model wasobtained. The mechanism for the formation ofsuperheavy elements was studied at the institute.Different ion beams available from the 3 MVpelletron were used for modification andpreparation of nanomaterials.

A novel phenomenon of “multiple splits” in thespectra of neutrinos from a supernova wasdiscovered and analytically investigated at TIFR.

In the field of High Energy Physics, the TIFRteam carried out observations of galactic and extra-galactic objects using the HAGAR telescope array.

The Institute of Mathematics finished the pilotstage of the India based Neutrino Observatory(INO) Project and identified a site that is awaitingenvironmental clearances. HRI's researchers wereactively involved in the development and physicsstudies relating to INO.

A group of HRI focused on systematic studies ofphysics signals at the Large Hadron Collider whichhas recently started its operation in Geneva.Standard Model processes were also studied indetail.

Members of the String Theory group at HRIworked on the microscopic understanding ofquantum states of supersymmetric black holesthrough the quantum entropy function,

Using microwave plasma carbon vapourdeposition (CVD) technique, high quality andhighly oriented CVD diamond thin films were

grown on silicon wafer (1-5 cm area) andcharacterized by SEM, XRD and RamanSpectroscopy.

Using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope(GMRT) set up near Pune, TIFR launched anambitious project to image 80% of the skyat 150 Mhz.

2

Layout of the RIB facility.Inset Linac-2 module of the RIB facility

Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR)Ion-Source Facility at TIFR

29


Chemistry

Biology

Material Science

CancerResearchAnd Treatment

Thorium-loaded MEP membranes weresynthesized for fluoride uptake studies. Fluorideuptake upto 75-80 % could be achieved with thesemembranes.

A simple method was developed at BARC tosynthesize rectangular plate like gold nano-particles. The synthesized nano-materials could befurther developed as potential bio-sensors.

A biological process was developed at Trombay,for removal of sulphate from sulphate-bearingbarren effluents such as those produced at UCIL,Jaduguda.

A biocide releasing polymer system capable ofcontinuous in situ production of chlorine dioxidewas developed.

At Trombay, 21 rice genotypes, including 9 landraces, 8 modern and 2 traditional cultivars, wereanalyzed by amplified fragment lengthpolymorphism (AFLP).

Human pathogenic bacteria as well as plantpathogenic and soil bacterium when exposed tolow dose gamma radiation, were found to undergocaspase dependent programmed cell death.

The number of new born children screened forcongenital malformation in the high level naturalradiation area and normal level natural radiationarea of Kerala, reached 1.30 lakh. There was nodifference in the frequency of these malformationsin these two areas.

Health audit survey of Mayannad and Kollamcorporation Division covering 81,000 populationwas completed.

Plasmodium falciparum enolase undergoesseveral post-translational modifications ofrelevance to its function. Using mass spectrometry,the TIFR researchers identified a tyrosine residuethat gets phosphorylated.

Transcriptional mechanisms that regulate cellidentity in the developing brain were examined. Inanother project, a novel migratory stream ofneurons was discovered. To understand the Neural

Basis of Brain Function, work continued at theNational Centre for Biological Sciences atBangalore, on the genetic analysis of chemo-sensory perception in Drosophila.

New compositions with La O additives in Ba-

Zn/Sr-silicate system and Ba-Ca-Al B-silicateP O /Cr O were optimized for high temperature

sealant and seals were made at Trombay.A pilot facility was setup at Trombay for

producing nuclear grade beryllia, which ismoderator- cum-reflector for compact hightemperature reactor and refurbished APSARAreactor.

Boron carbide and refractory/rare earth metalborides based, candidate materials for hightemperature structures such as hypersonic re-entryvehicles were consolidated.

A large magneto-calorific effect was discoveredby RRCAT in Cr and Cu doped NiMnIn alloys nearroom temperature and in DyAg in the 10 - 60 K

tempereature regime.At the Centre, the Transparentcrystals of L-arginine phosphate monohydrate(LAP) were successfully grown.

Platinum loaded Carbon Aerogel-platinumcatalyst made at RRCAT for heavy waterapplication, was undergoing testing.

At ACTREC, several new protocols and clinicalresearch programmes were initiated and the existingprogrammes were consolidated. The comparativeoncology programme gained momentum. The BoneMarrow Transplant programme completed 135transplants so far. Pharmacokinetic behavior of anti-cancer drugs in Indian pediatric cancer patients wasundertaken by ACTREC in collaboration with theUniversity of Newcastle.

The Cancer Genetics Clinic of ACTREC hasevolved as the apex national referral centre forcomprehensive clinical and laboratory geneticservices and research into the genetics of the majorcancer predisposition syndromes.

2 3

2 5 2 3

2

-

30


Development of synthesis protocols andradiochemical evaluation were carried out for two

containing diagnostic agents for cancer viz.

-Fluorothymidine ( F-FLT) for imaging cell-

proliferation in cancers and -Fluoromisonidazole

( -FM IS O) f o r i mag ing of hyp ox i cregions in tumours.

The Raja Ramanna Centre for AdvancedTechnology (RRCAT) has set up SynchrotronRadiation Sources Indus-1&2 for carrying outadvanced basic research. Round-the-clockoperation of the facility was started on February 08,2010. During the report period, Indus-1 storage ringoperated smoothly in user mode and storage of100mA beam current at 2 GeV in Indus-2 wasachieved on March 6, 2010.

During the year 2010, the beams from Indus-1and Indus-2 were available for 3800 hrs and 3200hrs respectively. The beamlines on Indus-1 were inuse by several groups from IITs, Institutes, anduniversities. On Indus-2, three beamlines weremade fully operational and installations of fiveother beamlines reached advanced stages.

On Indus-1, the indigenously developed highresolution vacuum ultra-violet beamline wascommissioned by BARC. Upgraded beam positionindicators fabricated at RRCAT for Indus-1, wereready for use. Ultrahigh vacuum compatible multi-

functional beam slit monitors for transfer line onIndus-1 were developed.

For Indus-2, the power conditioning system wasundergoing commissioning.

For the development of multilayer soft X-raymirrors for synchrotron radiation applications, astate-of-the-art Ion Beam Sputtering System wasbuilt by BARC.

A plasma ion source based Focused Ion Beam(FIB) system for micromachining applications wasdeveloped at VECC. Several micromachiningexperiments were carried out on silicon and coppersubstrates usingAr ion beam.

The Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) carriedout research in plasma science includingmagnetically confined hot plasmas and plasmatechnologies for industrial applications. It operatedAditya Tokamak and was engaged in building theSteady State Superconducting Tokamak (SST-1).

Experiments for upgrading the operationalwindow of Aditya tokamak were continued withdifferent control systems. The proposed Time ofFlight Diagnostics system reached the final stage offabrication, Charge Exchange diagnostics wereupgraded and charge exchange counts on all threechannels could be realized.

Detailed technical specifications were generatedfor a new 42GHz 500kW Electron CyclotronResonance Heating system, which will be used tocarry out pre-ionization and start-up experiments.

Work on the SST-1 Project made rapid progress.Fourteen of the sixteen SST-1 Toroidal Fieldmagnets were successfully tested.

For the 200 kW, 42.5 GHz DST GyrotronProject, IPR pursued fabrication of all the magnets,thermal design of the Gyrotron tube, all thecomponents of the transmission line, powersupplies and development of a Test Set-up etc.

RRCAT played an active role in a number ofinternational collaborations of DAE that included:

18

18

18

1 8

F

F

F

F

18

Synchrotrons and theirApplicationsFusion and Other Plasma Technologies

International Research Collaborations

Indus-1 is operatinground the clock at 100 mA current

31


z

z

z

A prototype solid state Long Pulse BouncerModulator developed and shipped to CERN as apart of the Novel Accelerator Technology(NAT), Project.

Two 1.3GHz prototype Superconducting RFniobium cavities developed earlier, wereprocessed and successfully tested recently at theFermi National Accelerator Laboratory,(FNAL), USA. For performance evaluation ofsuch cavities, RRCAT designed a Vertical TestStand Cryostats in collaboration with FNAL.

Under a collaborative programme withFermilab, USA, the development of cavityforming tooling for 650 MHz superconductingRF cavity had started. The first trial tooling wasdesigned and manufactured at RRCAT.

India is participating in the proposed Facility forAntiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Germany.This facility needs over 1400 magnet powersupplies of various types. At RRCAT, preliminarydesign studies and simulations were carried out forthe prototype of these magnets.

The Photon Multiplicity Detector, built byVECC in collaboration with other Indian groups,was successfully installed in the CERN-ALICEexperiment. For the analysis of data, the use ofGRID Computing facility atVECC was continued.

India is in the process of setting up the GlobalCentre for Nuclear Energy Partnership which willprovide a forum for joint work with its internationalpartners in development of proliferation resistantreactor technologies, nucelar security technologies,radiological safety and radiation technologyapplication.

IPR is a major participant in the InternationalThermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)Project cominig up at Cadarache, France. During

the report period, IPR vigorously pursued both theongoing works and the XI plan projects includingthe ITER related activities.

For fulfilling the commitment of India to ITERproject, five more Procurement Arrangements weresigned by IPR and pre-procurement activities forremaining ITER packages continued. Preparationof documents related to Procurement Arrangementfor the remaining procurement packages werecontinued. First interim review of preliminarydesign was held and the comments wereincorporated in the design basis documents. VariousDesign Change Requests /Project Change Requestswere studied at IPR and comments are submitted toITER Organization. Construction of Laboratorybuilding for ITER-INDIA was nearly completed.Other works related to the infrastructuredevelopment were continued.

For the fusion neutronic design of the ITERProject in France, computations and assessmentwere completed for heat generation rate in variouscomponents/systems of ITER, Helium productionrate in stainless steel, atom damage rate of thecomponents and the radiation dose rate in variousaccessible areas. This work was carried out byBARC in collaboration with IPR.

For the Test Blanket Module (TBM) to be testedin ITER, IPR is collaborating with BARC andIGCAR. The Institute was actively involved in thedesign and development of the TBMs.

Global Centre for Nuclear Partnership

ITER-Project

32


Public A

ware

ness A

ctivities

The Fifth International Conference NIC 2010,

DAE took part in the 11th International Conference

The 98th Session of the Indian Science Congress

of NAARRI was held in Mumbai during December

13-15, 2010. DAE's achievements in the areas of applications of radioisotopes in Healthcare,

Agriculture, Food, Bio-technology etc were exhibited.

on Public Communications of Science &

Technology 11th PCST-2010, held at NASC, Pusa, New Delhi during December 5-6, 2010. An

exhibition on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy and a skit depicting the exhibition theme were the

highlights of the event.

was held at the SRM University, Chennai during

January 3-7, 2011. The theme of the Science Congress was “Quality Education and Excellence in

Scientific research in Indian Universities”. Parallel to the Science Congress a Mega Science Expo was

also organized. DAE put up a grand pavilion and showcased all its achievements and contributions

towards societal development. Several other Government Departments, Research Laboratories,

Educational Institutions etc also participated in this mega event. The pavilion had over 50000 visitors.

Visitors at the DAE Pavilion during the 98th Session of the Indian Science Congress

Students being briefed during the Indian Science Congress Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviserto the Government of India at the DAE pavilion

33

Public A

ware

ness A

ctivities

The 5th Science Expo was held at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai during January 20-24, 2011.

DAE took part in this event and provided information on Nuclear Power, Applications of

Radioisotopes in various areas like Healthcare, Agriculture & Food, Industry and Hydrology,

Advanced technologies etc. Many Government Departments and R&D Institutions also participated

in the expo. The DAE exhibition was very well received by the academic community. Over 35000

students visited the pavilion.

Visitors at the DAE Pavilion during The 5th Science Expo was held at the Nehru Science Centre

DAE participated in the 9th Science Fiesta

An Integrated Irradiator Project

organized by the Goa Science Centre, Panaji, Goa,

during February 24-26, 2011.The event comprised Science Projects by school students, display by

other Scientific and Research Institutions depicting their products, Science Exhibitions etc. DAE

exhibited all its activities towards peaceful purposes with special focus on nuclear power. A nuclear

quiz for high school students and a lecture on the Indian Nuclear Power Programme was also

organized.

was set up at Rahuri, District Ahmadnagar by M/s Hindustan Agro

Co-operative Limited DURING June 5-6, 2011. The project was inaugurated by Shri Sharad Pawar,

Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture & Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public

Distribution, Government of India and presided by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon'ble Chief Minister of

Maharashtra. An exhibition on the societal vision of DAE with special focus on Agriculture and Food

Processing/Preservation was put up which was visited by the dignitaries and a number of local

farmers and private entrepreneurs.

Shri Sharad Pawar, Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture & Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India

and Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra. at the inauguration of the Integrated Irradiator Project

34

ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

ATOMIC ENERGY REGULATORY BOARD

DAE SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

R&D CENTRESPUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS

INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS

SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE, MUMBAI

INDIRA GANDHI CENTRE FOR ATOMIC RESEARCH, KALPAKKAM

RAJA RAMANNA CENTRE FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY,

INDORE

VARIABLE ENERGY CYCLOTRON CENTRE, KOLKATA

ATOMIC MINERALS DIRECTORATE FOR EXPLORATION &

RESEARCH HYDERABAD

HEAVY WATER BOARD,MUMBAI

NUCLEAR FUEL COMPLEX,HYDERABAD

BOARD OF RADIATION& ISOTOPE TECHNOLOGY,

MUMBAI

NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD,

MUMBAI

INDIAN RARE EARTHS LTD.,MUMBAI

URANIUM CORPORATIONOF INDIA LTD., JADUGUDA

ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONOF INDIA LTD., HYDERABAD

BHARATIYA NABHIKIYAVIDYUT NIGAM LTD.,

KALPAKKAM

DIRECTORATE OF PURCHASE& STORES, MUMBAI

DIRECTORATE OF CONSTRUCTION, SERVICES &

ESTATE MANAGEMENT.MUMBAI

GENERAL SERVICESORGANISATION, KALPAKKAM

HOMI BHABHANATIONAL INSTITUTE

BOARD OF RESEARCHIN NUCLEAR SCIENCES

NATIONAL BOARD OFHIGHER MATHEMATICS

AID

ED

IN

ST

ITU

TIO

NS

ATOMIC ENERGY EDUCATIONSOCIETY, MUMBAI

TATA INSTITUTE OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH,

MUMBAI

TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE,MUMBAI

SAHA INSTITUTE OF NUCLEARPHYSICS, KOLKATA

INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS,BHUBANESHWAR

INSTITUTE FOR PLASMARESEARCH, GANDHINAGAR

HARISH - CHANDRA RESEARCHINSTITUTE, ALLAHABAD

INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICALSCIENCE, CHENNAI

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFSCIENCE EDUCATION &

RESEARCH, BHUBANESHWAR

GLOBAL CENTRE FORNUCLEAR ENERGY PARTNERSHIP

GURGAON

SRINAGAR (Jammu & Kashmir) Nuclear Research Laboratory(BARC)

GULMARG (Jammu & Kashmir)

High Altitude Research Laboratory (BARC)

INDORE (Madhya Pradesh)Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced

TechnologyINDUS -1&2

RAWATBHATTA (Rajasthan)*Rajasthan Atomic Power Station 1-6 (NPCIL)*Rajasthan Atomic Power Project 7&8 (NPCIL)

*Heavy Water Plant-Kota (HWB)*RAPPCOF-Kota (BRIT)

MOUNT ABU (Rajasthan)Gurushikher Observatory

for Astrophysical Sciences (BARC)

GANDHINAGAR (Gujarat)Institute for Plasma Research

BARODA (Gujarat)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

KAKRAPAR (Gujarat)Kakrapar Atomic Power

Station 1,2 (NPCIL)

TARAPUR (Maharashtra)

*Tarapur Atomic Power

Station 1-4 (NPCIL)*WIP / SSSF (BARC)*Power Reactor Fuel

Reprocessing Plant (BARC)*Advanced Fuel

Fabrication Facility(BARC)*General Services Organisation

MUMBAI (Maharashtra)*Nuclear Power Corporation

of India Ltd.(HQ)*Indian Rare Earths Ltd. (HQ)

*Heavy Water Board (HQ)*ISOMED Plant (BRIT)

*Bhabha Atomic Research Centre*Radiation Medicine Centre (BARC)

*BRNS / HBNI / NBHM (HQ)*TIFR / TMC / AEES (HQ)

*DPS / DCS&EM (HQ)

NASIK (Maharashtra)KRUSHAK (BARC)

NAVI MUMBAI (Maharashtra)*Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (HQ)

*Radio-pharmaceutical Laboratories (BRIT)*Radiation Processing Plant (BRIT)

*Labelled Compounds Laboratory (BRIT)

* Radiation Equipment Production Facility (BRIT)

*Beryllium Plant (BARC)*Electron Beam Centre (BARC)

*ACTREC (TMC)

THAL (Maharashtra)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

KAIGA (Karnataka)*Kaiga Generating Station 1-4 (NPCIL)

CHAVARA (Kerala)Minerals Separation Plant (IRE)

UDYOGMANDAL (ALWAYE) (Kerala)Rare Earths Plant (IRE)

KOLLAM (Kerala)Low Radiation Research Laboratory (BARC)

MANAVALAKURUCHI (Tamil Nadu)Minerals Separation Plant (IRE)

PALAYAKAYAL (Tamil Nadu)New Zirconium Sponge Plant (NFC)

KUDANKULAM (Tamil Nadu)Kudankulam Atomic Power Project (NPCIL)

TUTICORIN (Tamil Nadu)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

KALPAKKAM (Tamil Nadu)*Madras Atomic Power Station (NPCIL)

*Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd.(HQ)*Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

*PFBR Project (IGCAR)*Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Plant (BARC)

*Kalpakkam Fuel Reprocessing Plant (BARC)*General Services Organisation

CHENNAI (Tamil Nadu)*Institute of Mathematical SciencesMYSORE

(Karnataka)Rare Materials

Project (BARC)

GAURIBIDANUR (Karnataka)Seismic Station(BARC)

HYDERABAD (Andhra Pradesh)*Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.(HQ)

*Nuclear Fuel Complex (HQ)*Jonaki Laboratory (BRIT)

*Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials (BARC)*Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research (HQ)

MANUGURU (Andhra Pradesh)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

CHHATRAPUR (Orissa)Orissa Sand Complex /

Thorium Plant (IRE)

BHUBANESWAR (Orissa)*Institute of Physics

*National Institute of Science Education and Research

TALCHER (Orissa)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

D2EHPA Plant

DIBRUGARH (Assam)

Radio-Immunoassay Centre (BRIT)

KOLKATA (West Bengal)*Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre

*Regional Radiation Medicine Centre (VECC)*Radio-pharmaceutical Laboratory (BRIT)

*Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics

JADUGUDA/BHATIN (Jharkhand)*Uranium Corporation of India Limited (HQ)

*Uranium Mill & Mines (UCIL)

NARWAPAHAR (Jharkhand)Uranium Mine (UCIL)

BANDUHURANG (Jharkhand)Uranium Mine (UCIL)

TURAMDIH (Jharkhand)Uranium Mine (UCIL)

ALLAHABAD (Uttar Pradesh)Harish-Chandra Research Institute

NARORA (Uttar Pradesh)Narora Atomic Power

Station (NPCIL)

KASAN (Delhi)Seismic Array Station

(BARC) DELHIRadio-pharmaceutical

Laboratories (BRIT)

BRNS : Board of Research in Nuclear SciencesHBNI : Homi Bhabha National InstituteNBHM : National Board for Higher MathematicsSSSF : Solid Storage Surveillance Facility WIP : Waste Immobilisation PlantAEES : Atomic Energy Education SocietyACTREC : Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in CancerTIFR : Tata Institute of FundamentalResearch TMC : Tata Memorial CentreDCS&EM : Directorate of Construction, Services & Estate ManagementDPS : Directorate of Purchase & Stores

Public SectorUndertakings

Industrial Facilities

Research & Development Organisations

Grant-in-aid Organisations

Service Organisations

BANGALORE (Karnataka)Radio-pharmaceutical Laboratories (BRIT)

HAZIRA (Gujarat)Heavy Water Plant (HWB)

ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENTS IN INDIA

Kakrapar AtomicPower Project 3,4 (NPCIL)

GURGAON (Haryana)Global Centre for

Nuclear Energy Partnership

NUCLEAR INDIA JAN JUNE 2011 ver 13 - Atoms in the · PDF fileNuclear India Vol.44 /No.7-12/...

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