Highlights of Events in Department of Atomic Energy in 2014

Foundation Stone of 2800 MW Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (Nuclear Power Project) laid Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister  laid  Foundation Stone of 2800 MW Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (Nuclear Power Project) on 13th January, 2014 .On this occasion he said this Nuclear Power Plant will Usher in Opening of New Vista’s of Development.  Gorakhpur Anu Vidyut Pariyajana (GHAVP-1 to 4) is an ambitious initiative of The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, A Govt. of India Enterprise. Being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 20,594 Crore, this will be the 1st Nuclear Power Plant of Haryana and will be 21st in the country. For it the Haryana State Government has provided 1319 Acre ( 534 Hectare) land for the project and neqrly 186 acre (75 Hectare) for the housing colonies of plant personnel and CISF personnel.  The proposed 700 MWe PHWR rectors are indigenous and similar o the ones currently under construction in Gujrat State (KAPP-3 &$) and Rajasthan state (RAPP-7 & 8). Also, the reactor size and the design features of 700 MWe are similar to that of 540 MWe of TAPP 3 &4 Units, except that partial boiling of the coolant upto about 3% (nominal ) at the coolant channel exit has been allowed.  Agreement for Establishing Nuclear Power Stations  A General Framework Agreement (GFA) was signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Joint Stock Company atomstroy export of the Russian Federation in April 2014 for establishing Kudankulam nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) units 3&4. An Early Works Agreement has also been concluded by NPCIL with M/s Westinghouse Electric Company for obtaining technical information about AP-1000 reactors.  The NPCIL is engaged in techno-commercial discussions with M/s Areva, France, General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (GEH) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) of the USA to arrive at project proposals for construction of Nuclear Power Plants. Conclusion of agreements with these companies will be subject to the techno-commercial proposals being satisfactory and viable.  Incubation of Technology for “Biodegradable and Edible Films for Food and Pharmaceuticals Packaging  The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India through its Centre for Incubation of Technologies (BARCIT) has signed a MoU with M/s Veena Industries, Nagpur for incubation of technology for “Biodegradable and Edible films for Food and Pharmaceuticals Packaging” today at Trombay, Mumbai in May 2014.  The biodegradable edible films for food and pharmaceutical packaging from natural resources have been developed by BARC for overcoming the disadvantages of plastic packaging materials. The films have comparable mechanical and barrier properties to commercially used PVC cling films.  Commissioning of Fast Breeder Reactor    The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) under construction  at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu was at an advanced stage of construction and commissioning as on 7th August 2014.  Erection of all major components of the reactor were  completed on time. Commissioning of auxiliary systems such as water system, ventilation, electrical and gas systems have been completed. The next stage in commissioning is preheating and filling of sodium into secondary and primary systems.  The project achieved overall physical progress of 97.6% on 30.06.2014.  The approved date for criticality of PFBR was in September, 2014.  However, being the first of its kind reactor being built completely indigenously in our country, some delays on account of the requirement of rigorous testing and qualification of all major equipment and sub-systems are anticipated.    Most of the support systems commissioned are  under operation. Following are some of the major supporting systems which are commissioned:  Safety service water system and associated raw water system; Emergency service water system and associated raw water system; De-mineralizer plant; Fire alarm system; Nitrogen generation system; 220 kV Switchyard;   6.6 kV switch gear and  Emergency Diesel Generator system Trailblazing Performance of 765 Days of Continuous Run Yielded Second Place for RAPS-5 Globally  Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Dae Marked the Feet Achievements  RAPS-5, the unit-5 of Rawatbhata Rajasthan Site (RR Site) on6th September 2014  recorded safe reactor operation of 765 days. Thus it had a trailblazing Performance that has earned second position Globally for the Unit.This prestigious moment was observed in the august presence of Department of Atomic Energy Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. R.K. Sinha and Chief Managing Director of NPCIL Shri K.C.Purohit at a function held in Rawatbhata (Chittourgarh) Rajasthan.  So far only 10 rectors in the world have accomplished uninterrupted production for more than 500 days and of which India has 03 such reactors. the remaining 02 are from Canada and rest five are from USA, Dr. Sinha added.  RAPS-5, an indigenously designed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) of 220 MW is fuelled with natural Uranium and moderated and cooled by Heavy water. It was first synchronized to grid on December 22, 2009 and began its commercial operation on February 04, 2010.The unit has generated about 8663 Million Units of electricity till today to Northern grid since its commercial operation, benefitting Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttrakhand.  RR Site is the harbinger of PHWRs in India. The site also has a special place in the history of Rawatbhata Rajasthan Site hosts eight PHWRs, of which two 700-MW PHWRs are under construction, making RR site India`s first and largest nuclear park in terms of number of reactors hosted at a site. Indian nuclear power programme for being the home to the first and latest PHWRs. Of the 1080 MW capacity in operation currently, about Fifty Percent of the Power generated at the site is supplied to Rajasthan State.  The expansion plans for the upcoming unit 7 and 8 of RAPS which are under construction. They will produce700 MW power seperately.