Nuclear (Physics) Part-I

Radioactive elements are elements that have an unstable nucleus. When the nuclei are considered unstable, they radiate alpha, beta and gamma radiation and is converted into a stable element. This type of radiation is invisible for naked eye.

Control rod constitutes a real-time control of fission process which is crucial for both keeping the fission chain reaction active and preventing it from accelerating beyond control.

These rods are composed of chemical elements such as boron, silver, indium and cadmium.

Tarapur Atomic power station was the first nuclear power plant established in India which becomes operational in 1969. It is situated in Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Its original capacity was 320 MW but in 2005, two 540 MW pressurized heavy water reactors were also operationalised at Tarapur.

India's first nuclear reactors (Apsara-1956; Cirus-1960) were established at BARC in Trombay. However, they are just only research reactors. So according to the question we consider Tarapur atomic power station (1969) is India's first atomic power station.

During the question period, Dr. Ratan Kumar Sinha (19 May, 2010-19 June, 2012) was the Director of BARC. While at presentVivek Bhasin is serving the same position since 15 September, 2023.

Dhruva, Purnima, and Cirus are Indian research reactors. Purnima I, II and III were indigenously designed reactors. All of these 3 reactors were decommissioned decades ago.

Cirus was a heavy water tank reactor, fuelled with 10 tons of natural uranium and generating about 40 Megawatts of thermal power. It was supplied by Canada and became fully operational in 1960.

This reactor was permanently shutdown in 2010. While Dhruva is a heavy water tank reactor, fuelled with 6.5 tons of natural uranium indigenously supplied, and generating 100 MW of power.

Basically, in India, we use natural uranium as a nuclear fuel. Natural uranium refers to uranium with the same isotopic ratio as found in nature.

It contains around 0.7% uranium-235, about 99.284% uranium-238, and trace amount of uranium-234 (about 0.005%). Thus, in India we used low-enriched (natural uranium) uranium i.e U-238.

Karnataka established its first hydroelectric power plant at Shivanasamudra, across the River Kaveri in 1902. Located in Tamil Nadu, Kalpakkam is famous for its nuclear power plants and research installations.

Kalpakkam (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is known for its nuclear plants and affiliated research installations. These include the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), a nuclear power plant, and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR-established in 1971), an affiliate of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) is a comprehensive nuclear power production, fuel reprocessing. and waste treatment facility that includes plutonium fuel fabrication for fast breeder reactors (FBRs).

It is also India's first fully indigenously constructed nuclear power station, with two units each generating 220 MW of electricity (operated by NPCIL).

Kalpakkam is also home to India's first large scale fast breeder reactor of 500 MWe (under construction) called the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor operated by BHAVINI and will also be the site of first two FBR-600 commercial fast breeder reactors.

A beachhead at Kalpakkam also hosts India's first indigenous pressurised (light) water reactor (PWR). The 80 MW reactor was developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) as the land-based prototype of the nuclear power unit for India's nuclear submarines.

Kalpakkam (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is known for its nuclear plants and affiliated research installations. These include the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), a nuclear power plant, and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR-established in 1971), an affiliate of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) is a comprehensive nuclear power production, fuel reprocessing. and waste treatment facility that includes plutonium fuel fabrication for fast breeder reactors (FBRs).

It is also India's first fully indigenously constructed nuclear power station, with two units each generating 220 MW of electricity (operated by NPCIL).

Kalpakkam is also home to India's first large scale fast breeder reactor of 500 MWe (under construction) called the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor operated by BHAVINI and will also be the site of first two FBR-600 commercial fast breeder reactors.

A beachhead at Kalpakkam also hosts India's first indigenous pressurised (light) water reactor (PWR). The 80 MW reactor was developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) as the land-based prototype of the nuclear power unit for India's nuclear submarines.