๐ Topic 06 of 6 ยท Chapter 03 ยท Nuclear Technology
Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Revision
Nuclear fuel cycle, thorium reserves, complete revision โ UPSC & PSC exams.
โ๏ธ Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- Mining โ uranium ore mined (Jaduguda, Jharkhand; Tummalapalle, AP)
- Milling โ ore processed to produce “yellowcake” (uranium oxide UโOโ)
- Conversion โ yellowcake converted to uranium hexafluoride (UFโ) for enrichment
- Enrichment โ U-235 concentration increased (for BWR, PWR); PHWRs use natural uranium (no enrichment needed)
- Fuel fabrication โ uranium pellets made; loaded into fuel rods
- Reactor operation โ fuel rods used in reactor; U-235 fissions; heat generated
- Spent fuel reprocessing โ spent fuel contains Pu-239; reprocessed at BARC (Trombay) and Kalpakkam
- Waste management โ radioactive waste stored safely; vitrification (glass) for high-level waste
โ๏ธ India’s Nuclear Fuel Resources
- Uranium: Limited reserves; Jaduguda (Jharkhand) = first mine; Tummalapalle (AP) = large deposit; India imports uranium from Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia
- Thorium: World’s largest reserves (~25%); Kerala and Tamil Nadu (monazite sands); IREL processes monazite
- Heavy Water: Produced at Heavy Water Plants in Baroda, Tuticorin, Talcher, Kota, Manuguru, Hazira
โ Chapter 03 โ Complete Revision Checklist
โ
Father of Indian Nuclear Programme = Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
โ India’s 3-stage nuclear programme = uranium โ plutonium โ thorium
โ India = world’s largest thorium reserves (~25%) = Kerala, Tamil Nadu
โ Tarapur (Maharashtra) = first nuclear plant in India (1969) = US assistance
โ Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) = largest nuclear plant = Russian assistance
โ PHWR = most common reactor type in India = heavy water moderator
โ PFBR (Kalpakkam) = India’s first Fast Breeder Reactor = under construction
โ BARC = Bhabha Atomic Research Centre = Mumbai = premier nuclear research
โ Apsara = Asia’s first research reactor = 1956 = BARC
โ India has NOT signed NPT or CTBT
โ India received NSG waiver in 2008 (India-US nuclear deal)
โ IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency = HQ Vienna
โ Jaduguda (Jharkhand) = India’s first uranium mine
โ India has 22 nuclear reactors at 7 nuclear power plants
โ Nuclear power = ~3% of India’s electricity
โ India’s 3-stage nuclear programme = uranium โ plutonium โ thorium
โ India = world’s largest thorium reserves (~25%) = Kerala, Tamil Nadu
โ Tarapur (Maharashtra) = first nuclear plant in India (1969) = US assistance
โ Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) = largest nuclear plant = Russian assistance
โ PHWR = most common reactor type in India = heavy water moderator
โ PFBR (Kalpakkam) = India’s first Fast Breeder Reactor = under construction
โ BARC = Bhabha Atomic Research Centre = Mumbai = premier nuclear research
โ Apsara = Asia’s first research reactor = 1956 = BARC
โ India has NOT signed NPT or CTBT
โ India received NSG waiver in 2008 (India-US nuclear deal)
โ IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency = HQ Vienna
โ Jaduguda (Jharkhand) = India’s first uranium mine
โ India has 22 nuclear reactors at 7 nuclear power plants
โ Nuclear power = ~3% of India’s electricity