India’s first Indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam, around 80 km from Chennai, which was ready to be commissioned in September 2015, is now schedule for commissioning in 2017.
PFBR uses sodium as a coolant; it is fueled by a blend of plutonium and uranium oxide, called MOX fuel.
Indian atomic scientist Dr. Sekhar Basu explained that the reactor uses sodium as a coolant where the temperature goes up to 600 degree Celsius, as a first step the system has to be heated to 200 degree Celsius following which sodium will be filled and it has to come to a stage where the reactor will be ready. Mr. Basu further said that this is a new technology for India and must satisfy the safety requirements fro the Atomic Energy Regulatory board of India (AERB).
PFBR is a new generation of reactor and its operation will help India to join the elite class of nations that have the technology of fast breeders.
