Why is it in the News?

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the start of the process of core-loading the indigenous prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

What is the PFBR?

• The PFBR, or Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, is a nuclear reactor designed to produce more nuclear fuel than it consumes.
• In nuclear fission, the nucleus of an atom absorbs a neutron, becomes unstable, and splits into two, releasing energy.
• If the unstable nucleus releases additional neutrons, the reactor’s facilities can utilize them to initiate more fission reactions.

How does the PFBR work?

• PHWRs use natural or low-enriched U-238 as the fissile material and produce Pu-239 as a byproduct.
  • This Pu-239 is combined with more U-238 into a mixed oxide and loaded into the core of a new reactor together with a blanket.
  • This is a material the fission products in the core react with to produce more Pu-239.
• A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes.
  • In a ‘fast’ breeder reactor, the neutrons aren’t slowed, allowing them to trigger specific fission reactions.
• The PFBR is designed to produce more Pu-239 than it consumes.
  • It uses liquid sodium, a highly reactive substance, as coolant in two circuits. Coolant in the first circuit enters the reactor and leaves with (heat) energy and radioactivity.
  • Via heat-exchangers, it transfers only the heat to the coolant in a secondary circuit.
  • The latter transfers the heat to generators to produce electricity.