New Delhi
31 July 2009
The miniaturised nuclear reactor to be fitted into the INS Arihant is a light water
reactor which uses enriched uranium fuel, as opposed to natural uranium that fuels a
pressurised heavy water reactor.
A serving nuclear scientist, who did not want to be identified, told this correspondent that
the use of enriched uranium fuel is a first in India. The highly enriched uranium fuel for
the reactor was supplied by the Rare Materials Project at Ratnahalli near Mysore,
Karnataka.
The design and construction of the reactor for use in the submarine came with its own
challenges because fuel, coolant and moderator were different from that of a pressurised
heavy water reactor. To make the reactor size compact posed another challenge. Also,
care had be taken to ensure that the reactor could absorb shock, and that it was
configured for safety.
The Department of Atomic Energy and the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) overcame all the hurdles, and except for the time Russian
consultants were called in to resolve certain technical glitches, the nuclear-powered
submarine is an indigenous accomplishment.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) spearheaded the initial design and
construction of the miniaturised reactor. The reactor was later moved to the Indira Gandhi
Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, where the final production
version of the reactor was housed. The IGCAR operated the reactor on land for testing
purposes since the reactor attained criticality in 2004.
Dr AN Prasad, a former director of BARC, told this newspaper that a nuclear-powered
submarine is a milestone because it offers operational flexibility as opposed to a vessel
propelled by conventional fuel.
A former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr PK Iyengar, told this
correspondent that it is for the first time that India has built a compact light water reactor
that can be fitted into the hull of a submarine. The United States, the United Kingdom,
Russia, France and China may have successfully built a nuclear-powered submarine
before India, but the fact remains that India joined an elite club on its own strengths by
indigenously developing the required technology.
It shows our self-reliance, Dr Iyengar said, recalling the pioneering vision of the late Dr
Raja Ramanna, who initiated the project.
Dr Iyengar ended the telephone conversation with a parting shot, that if there was
willingness on the part of the Government for risk taking in research and development
activity, India need not import light water reactors. "We can scale it (miniaturised reactor)
up ... borrowed technology is not economically viable in the long run," Dr Iyengar said, in
an oblique reference to the light water reactors to be imported post the nuclear deal with
the US.
The late Dr Ramanna was the director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for over
a decade. He also served as the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) chief and scientific adviser to the Defence Minister of India. Dr Ramanna rose to
become the Union minister of state of defence in 1990.
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