tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post1125011069958987780..comments2024-03-01T13:51:47.721+05:30Comments on Reality, one bite at a time: Thorium and the Indian nuclear programmeSiddharth Varadarajanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07721228307097170092noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post-68555736972849373562008-11-21T04:58:00.000+05:302008-11-21T04:58:00.000+05:30Developmental work for new neutron kinetic code fo...Developmental work for new neutron kinetic code for Accelerator Driven System was initiated.Technology development leading to industrial strength and independence is the best way to have a credible deterrent against hegemonistic powers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post-11141007112661625422008-07-22T11:46:00.000+05:302008-07-22T11:46:00.000+05:30This comment has been removed by the author.Kammie Kamalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06229688548779938861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13437119.post-55978759281887853822008-07-20T20:33:00.000+05:302008-07-20T20:33:00.000+05:30So goes the strain in Sound Of Music movie: If you...So goes the strain in Sound Of Music movie: <BR/><BR/><I>If you know the notes to sing<BR/>You can sing 'most any thing!</I><BR/><BR/>Similarly, if one knows how to "project" futuristic demand of electrical energy in India, one can probably justify import of any number of alien reactor systems, why only 40 GWe?<BR/><BR/>We are here talking of likely scenarios far into the future. In the circumstances, Mr. Kakodkar, for reasons best known to himself, seems to have overlooked a very promising field in which DAE is working even as of now. <BR/><BR/>If you peruse closely the diagram titled "Three Stages of the Indian Nuclear Power Programme" at page 5/16 of DAE's Report Titled <A HREF="http://www.dae.gov.in/publ/betrlife/energy.pdf" REL="nofollow">A Strategy for Growth of Electricity Generation in India</A>, you will find an icon captioned "Non-reactor breeding" at the end of the 1st stage / beginning of the 2nd stage. This refers to development of technologies for Th-U233 utilisation through the Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS). <BR/><BR/>The document notes:<BR/><BR/>Quote<BR/><BR/><I>As a next step towards self sustained thorium utilization with a potential for growth, a road map for the development of Accelerator Driven System (ADS) has been prepared. In the ADS, high energy proton beam generates neutrons directly through spallation reaction in a non-fertile/ non-fissile element like lead. A sub-critical blanket can then further amplify this external neutron source as well as produce energy. Development of such a system offers the promise of shorter doubling time with thorium-uranium-233 systems, incineration of long lived actinides and fission products and can provide a robust technology base to large scale thorium utilization. As a first step towards realization of ADS, we are launching development of proton accelerator in the X five year plan.</I><BR/><BR/>Unquote<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.dae.gov.in/publ/ar0607/start.pdf" REL="nofollow">Annual Report of DAE for 2006 - 07</A> at Chapter 3 gives the <I>current</I> status as follows (pun intended!):<BR/><BR/>Quote<BR/><BR/><I><B>Accelerator Driven Subcritical Systems (ADS)</B><BR/><BR/>A self-sustaining Th-U cycle in a heavy water moderated ADS system, supporting 500 MWe power and 60 GWd/T fuel burn-up was evolved using a 1 GeV proton beam of 30 mA current. Developmental work for new neutron kinetic code for Accelerator Driven System was initiated. At VECC, simulation work on the main magnet of 10MeV cyclotron was taken up to facilitate studies related to handling space charge dominated beams relevant for a compact Cyclotron. To this end various supplies like the High Frequency Structure Simulator computer code was procured and tested. Assembly of various components made progress.</I><BR/><BR/>Unquote<BR/><BR/>Rather than longing for importation of costly nuclear power plants with a lot of unacceptable strings attached, DAE must concentrate on indigenous development efforts it already has on hand and try to make them bear fruit. To over-work a cliche, at the end of the day (even if the "day" turns out to be a few decades), India will be stronger for the effort that has been put in self-development of high technology. Technology development leading to industrial strength and independence is the best way to have a credible deterrent against hegemonistic powers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com