Indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)

General Studies Paper -3

Context: Prime Minister witnessed the initiation of the core loading of India’s indigenous 500 Mwe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at the Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam.

• This marked India’s entry into the vital second stage of the country’s three-stage nuclear programme. 

What is the PFBR?

• PFBR was constructed and will be operated by Bharatiya Nabhikiya.
• Government approved the creation of Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) in
• The PFBR is a machine that produces more nuclear fuel than it consumes.

The Salient Feature of the Reactor:

• The Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) will initially use the Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel. 
• TheUranium-238 “blanket” surrounding the fuel core will undergo nuclear transmutation to produce more fuel, thus earning the name ‘Breeder’.
• The use of Thorium-232,which in itself is not a fissile material, as a blanket is also envisaged in this stage.
• By transmutation, Thorium will create fissile Uranium-233which will be used as fuel in the third stage. 

Significance of the Fast Breeder Reactor

• FBR is  a stepping stone for the third stage of the program paving the way for the eventual full utilization of India’s abundant thorium reserves.
• It can produce more fuel than it consumes, thus helping in achieving self-reliance in fuel supply for future fast reactors.
• It is an advanced third-generation reactor with inherent passive safety features, ensuring a prompt and safe shutdown of the plant in an emergency.
• Since it uses spent fuel from the first stage, FBR also offers an advantage in a significant reduction in nuclear waste generated. 
• Once commissioned, India will be the second country after Russiato have a commercially operating fast breeder reactor.

India’s Three-stage Nuclear Program

• Homi J. Bhabha designed the three-stage programme as India has limited domestic uranium resources but has abundant Thorium. 
• The three stages are expected to allow the country complete self-sufficiency in nuclear energy.
• First Stage (Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors – PHWRs): India’s nuclear program initially focused on establishing a fleet of PHWRs.
• These reactors use natural uranium (U-238), which contains minuscule amounts of U-235, as the fissile material.
• Heavy water (deuterium oxide) as both moderator and coolant.
• The primary purpose of this stage was to produce plutonium-239 as a byproduct from the uranium fuel. 
• Plutonium-239 is a fissile material used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
• Second Stage (Fast Breeder Reactors – FBRs): The second stage of the program involves the deployment of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs).
• FBRs are designed to produce more fissile material than they consume by utilizing a fast neutron spectrum.
• In this stage, plutonium-239produced in the first stage is used as fuel along with U-238 to produce energy, U-233, and more Pu-239. 
• Uranium-233is another fissile material that can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
• Third Stage (Advanced Heavy Water Reactors – AHWRs): The final stage of the program entails the deployment of Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs). 
• Pu-239 will be combined with thorium-232 (Th-232)in reactors to produce energy and U-233. 

Thorium is abundantly available in India, and this stage aims to harness its potential as a nuclear fuel.