India 2018

Scientific and Technological Developments 487
deflagration, flame acceleration and detonation using experimental data to
understand different physical and chemical processes during hydrogen
combustion. Fitness-for-Service and assessment of remaining life of
hemispherical bottom head of second stage hot tower of HWP, Kota was carried
out by finite element analyses and limit load calculations.
Health Safety and Environment
NPCIL has recorded about 430 reactors of safe operation of reactors by the end
of December 2015. Review of safety of operating stations was carried out on a
regular basis. It continued to maintain low radiation exposure in the public
domain due to operation of nuclear power stations. At all operating stations of
NPCIL certified Environmental Management System (EMS) as per (SO-14001:
2004 and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) as
per IS-18001: 2007 are maintained and regular audits (internal, external and
management) were carried out for continual improvement.
An online thoron monitoring network was installed and made operational
at PRTRF at Trombay to monitor the thoron gas concentration at various
locations in the facility. Internal exposure assessment of occupational workers
from various facilities of BARC at Mumbai and Tarapur was carried out by
whole body/lung counting and bioassay (urine/fecal) sample analysis. All the
plants of Heavy Water Board are certified for ISO Quality Management System,
Environmental Management System and OSHA System. The overall safety
standards of heavy water plants were far better than similar chemical industries
in the country.
Fast Breeder Reactors
For the second stage of the Nuclear Power Generation Programme, the Indira
Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is pursuing development of
sodium cooled fast breeder reactors and associated fuel cycle technologies.
Breeder reactors produce more fuel than they consume. The Fast Reactor
Programme of IGCAR is supported by its research and development endeavour
in a range of disciplines such as reactor engineering, metallurgy, materials
science, instrumentation, safety, etc. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR),
operating at Kalpakkam for over 25 years, also caters to technology development
related to fast reactors.
Fast Breeder Test Reactor
During 2015-16, Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), the flagship of the IGCAR,
continued to play an important role in testing the fuel, structural materials and
special neutron detectors for FBR programmes.
Thorium Based Reactors
Nuclear power employing closed fuel cycle is the only sustainable option for
meeting a major part of the world energy demand. World resources of thorium