India Nuclear News and Discussion 4 July 2011

[Vayutuvan]

So renewables are a little more than 43% of the total. Wow. That is really great news.

[vera_k]

Capacity is a misleading metric. All types of renewables generated about 20% of electricity. Nuclear shines in this regard, where it generated about 3% of electricity although capacity is less than 2%.

More data here

[Amber G.]

^^^ Thanks. To add to above (for general knowledge):

- NPP typically convert about 1/3 of the thermal energy produced by nuclear fission into electricity. This means that approximately 67% of the energy is lost as heat, primarily dissipated through cooling systems.

- While most nuclear energy is converted into electricity, there are procedures that utilize the thermal energy directly - :

Desalination: NPP use waste heat to produce fresh water through desalination, especially in coastal areas.
District Heating: Nuclear power plants can provide heat for nearby cities or industries, (similar to fossil fuel-based district heating systems)
Industrial Processes: (such as)
Hydrogen production through electrolysis or thermochemical processes.
Chemical synthesis, like producing ammonia or methanol.
High-temperature processes, such as steel production or advanced materials manufacturing.
Nuclear-Powered Ships .
Space Exploration: Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) convert the heat generated by radioactive decay into electricity, powering spacecraft and satellites.

From what I know, In India's case:

- The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu has a desalination plant that uses waste heat to produce 4.5 million liters of fresh water per day.
(Similar projects are planned for other coastal nuclear power plants)

- BARC has developed a nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility.
(To use nuclear energy for chemical synthesis, such as producing ammonia and methanol)

- Nuclear-powered submarines, (EG INS Arihant, and plans to build more)

There are proposals to use nuclear power plants for district heating in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.

[Vayutuvan]

A doubt. How does district heating work?

What medium carries the heat from the source (nuclear power plant) to consumer(s)? What are the losses? I guess only modular NPPs are viable for this kind of application where they can be placed close to the consumer.

Desalination is by heating the saline water (sea water, I presume) to boiling temperatures which and condense the water vapor, right? Membrane separation requires electricity.

For good waste heat recovery, one needs to colocate the plants that use the heat directly.

[Amber G.]

FWIW - short answers:


- The medium that carries heat from a nuclear power plant to consumers is typically steam, (for district heating, desalination, and industrial processes.), Hot Water (for district heating) and Gases:( Eg Co2, He - used in some industrial processes)

- Yes, modular NPPs \ are well-suited for direct heat applications as you say.

Wrt - Desalination
Correct! Desalination using nuclear energy typically involves:
(Heating to produce steam, which is then condensed) producing fresh water but there are similar methods including Membrane separation or Reverse Osmosis etc.. which are used -- and yes these requires electricity..)

( Good place to see details is sites like IAEA, NAS, and some popular sites )

[disha]

^ I wonder why one needs district wide heating in India. I would think one needs district cooling in India. And for that one does not need to rely on nuclear power plants. For example in peak summer, one can use ambient below ground heat sink to collect heat from building(s) and dump it in the heat sink and use the heat to power or heat up something else (a secondary heat sink).

Any fluid, including water can be used. It all depends upon the thermal capacity per unit volume, safety and cost. In all of that, water beats hands down. Of course purified water is costly and de-ionized water is used, but de-ionized water in iron or copper or lead pipes and some type of pvc pipes will lead to very interesting corrosion problems . So glycols are added (mostly in colder climes) but then some percentage of glycol acts as excellent algae nutrient! I would go back to water. Maybe a little salty water so that the pipes do not corrode and even if it leaks, it is not a toxic hazard.

But why are we discussing district wide heating in India, when India needs distributed large scale cooling (and not use A/Cs), it can use for example solar water heaters on top of buildings and water pools and heat sinks using ambient ground temperature and a passive evaporative green cooling for district cooling. All large and public buildings in India can design as such.

NPP for India should be for water desalination and hydrogen production. And of course base load and I would love to see 50% of India's power coming from NPP.

[Shameek]

^ District heating can help most of North India in Winter to avoid people running personal heaters and worse, lighting fires to keep warm.

[KL Dubey]

Correct! Desalination using nuclear energy typically involves:
(Heating to produce steam, which is then condensed) producing fresh water but there are similar methods including Membrane separation or Reverse Osmosis etc.. which are used -- and yes these requires electricity..)

More specifically, it depends on how much electricity the turbine squeezes out from the high-pressure steam (HPS) generated from the nuclear reactor heat.

In one option, the turbine squeezes out "extra" electricity all the way to low-pressure steam (LPS)...some of this electricity can be used to run an RO desalination plant....the remaining LPS can also be used for additional water production by multi-effect evaporators (MEE)...these don't produce "steam", they produce water vapor since the LPS is low quality heat slightly above/below 100C.

In other options, the turbine exit steam is higher quality ("MPS" instead of LPS) and can be used for multi-effect distillation (MED) above 100C. In some cases, it is of high enough quality that you can do flash distillations.

[Amber G.]

^^^ Thanks.
(PS ... whenever you have time and feel like doing it - more details on this (or other topics) for India would be nice. Thanks in advance)

[chetak]

-#India's atomic regulator permits loading nuclear fuel & controlled chain reaction of Throium-232 based Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Kalpakkam


India's Atomic Energy designed in 60s in 3-Phases

Uranium Reactor(need Nuclear Fuel from NSG Suppliers)

Fast Breeder Reactors with plutonium fuel

Last Thorium

Its the Last stage that NATO wants to Stop India's Self Sufficiency =>India has world's 2d Largest Thorium Reserves in Tamilnadu

[Amber G.]

India's second 700 MW nuclear power KAPS-4 plant starts operations at full capacity

India's Kakrapar Atomic Power Station saw its second home-built 700 MW nuclear reactor begin operating at full capacity. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited confirmed that Unit 4, which started commercial operations on March 31, 2024, has now reached 700 MWe. This marks a significant milestone, as India plans to add 14 more reactors by 2031-32.

[Amber G.]

Indigenous fast breeder reactor set to become critical:

[Amber G.]

I have posted such data here before but these graphs make as good a case for nuclear as any I have seen :
1. Amount of carbon-intensive material needed for different power plants.


2. Number of deaths by energy source.


3.Carbon intensity .

(Image credit: Bill Gates and other well known sources)

[VKumar]

Now only if someone can find a solution to the used fuel
dispoal.

[Amber G.]

Now only if someone can find a solution to the used fuel
dispoal.

FWIW: A nuclear physicist perspective:

There is a lot of misinformation driven by agendas and paranoia rather than actual knowledge and understanding about nuclear power and 'spent fuel.'

For those interested, here are some facts. Ask any reputable nuclear scientist or look up reputable resources to verify these claims. (I, as a nuclear physicist, have posted these in various BRF dhagas over 10-20 years - check out those posts and references.)

Again for perspective, consider these facts:

While nuclear power plants do emit radioactivity, coal plants actually release more radioactive materials into the environment per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated. This is due to the radioactive elements present in coal, such as uranium and thorium, which are released during combustion. In fact, coal-fired power plants can release 100 to 1,000 times more radioactivity per kWh into the environment than nuclear power plants.
(See various posts where I discussed this in detail or see this SA article - Coal Ash Is More Radioactive Than Nuclear Waste

(Both are lower than most of us get due to cosmic radiation and other natural resources. However, the harm caused by gases in coal plants, such as smoke, is MUCH more serious.)

Now, consider the 'waste':

Average nuclear power plant: Generates 20-30 tons of spent fuel per GWh
A coal plant, for comparison, generates 400-500 tons of fly ash per GWh!

In the USA, there is approximately 88,000 tons of spent fuel accumulated since 1957, compared to about 13 billion tons (150,000 times) of fly ash accumulated by coal plants since the same time period.

Nuclear power plant waste is significantly more radioactive but better contained and regulated.
Coal fly ash contaminates water sources, air, and soil, much worse than nuclear waste, and is quite dangerous.

Just speaking of radioactivity:

Average uranium concentration in US coal fly ash: about 2 parts per million (ppm)
Total uranium in US coal fly ash reserves: Estimated 2-3 million tons

Extractable U-235 from US coal fly ash: 5,000-10,700 tons! (500,000 smiling Budhas!)

US coal fly ash uranium: Equivalent to 10-20 years of US uranium demand (based on 2019 consumption) - if we can extract U from fly-ash.

[Amber G.]

^^^
In India's case:

India's nuclear power program IMO is quite good in managing spent fuel, with a focus on reprocessing and recycling. The country's first spent fuel reprocessing plant was established in 1965, and since then, India has been actively working on spent fuel management strategies.

India's nuclear power plants generate around 60 tons of spent fuel per year from each reactor. With multiple reactors operating across the country, the total spent fuel generation is substantial but India's disposal efficiency is enhanced through its closed fuel cycle approach, which reduces waste volume and mitigates radio-toxicity . The country's nuclear waste management program includes on-site storage of low and intermediate-level waste, with plans for final disposal through geological repositorie.

(There are challenges but overall, India's nuclear power program has demonstrated a commitment to responsible spent fuel management). Main thing IMO is -- Ensuring public acceptance and awareness.

For those interested please see:
https://barc.gov.in/barc_nl/2022/2022010201.pdf
https://www.barc.gov.in/barc_nl/2022/2022010202.pdf

[vera_k]

Reference to coal ash above reminded me of this recent real world article.

Wealthy Carolina Town Worries There’s Danger Lurking Under Its Lawns

[Amber G.]

^^^Thanks. The article has many valid points - coal ash mixed could make the earth 10x or more radioactive..of course we need energy so we need power plants.

But for perspective, in 2014 about 130 million tons of coal ash was produced in USA.. Annual estimate for the world is around 700 million tons per year! (containing about 1400 tons of Uranium - 10 tons of U235).

Coal ash dumps can be huge, with some of the biggest exceeding hundreds of acres in size. For example, the Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee, which experienced a massive spill in 2008, has a coal ash storage area covering about 300 acres!

( They do not get as much news paper attention as nuclear waste)

[Amber G.]

Honoring Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha on his birth anniversary, remembering the visionary father of India’s Nuclear Program.

[Amber G.]

xpost - Sorry I posted in other dhaga .. but it belongs here today as BRF is quite familiar with his role.
Sad -- Breaking news:
R Chidambaram, one the most decorated scientists of our era, an outstanding Science administrator and a fine gentleman, (privilege to have known him) we will miss you. Om Shanti.


Here is a photo of Dr. Chidambaram, along with Dr. Kalam, PM Vajpayee and RM George Fernandes, at the Shakti series of nuclear tests in 1998. (Photo Credit/HT: from SM post in an IIT prof)

[Amber G.]

^^^From: https://x.com/kvijayraghavan/status/1875435911066087679

Rajagopala Chidambaram, a distinguished Indian physicist and one of the key architects of India's nuclear program, passed away on January 4, 2025, at 88. Born November 11, 1936, in Chennai, Chidambaram significantly contributed to India's scientific and technological advancements throughout his illustrious career.

His family was based near Prayagraj (Allahabad) during the partition. Chidambaram recounted how, amid riots, he was wandering around, lost and separated from his family. He was rescued and sheltered by a Muslim family, who eventually, after a few days, traced his family and had him reunited.

Chidambaram completed his http://B.Sc. with honours in physics from Madras University in 1956, followed by an http://M.Sc. in physics from the same institution. In 1962, he earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Soon after, he joined the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). Homi Bhabha was its head ) AEET became the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre after Bhabha died in 1966). With Chidambaram’s passing, we have lost on of the last remaining associates of Homi Bhabha.

Chidambaram was pivotal in India’s nuclear programme, coordinating test preparations for Pokhran-I (1974) and Pokhran-II (1998) . He led the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) team in designing and executing the nuclear devices for these tests. After 1988, when some faculty members at one of the Department of Atomic Energy’s institutions raised concerns, Chidambaram respectfully acknowledged their position but pointed out that unless there was complete nuclear disarmament, demand that India not develop nuclear deterrence was not, in his view, a tenable position.

Chidambaram was a scientist and also a large-team leader on mega projects. This combination is not uncommon in the Department of Atomic Energy in India. Indeed, In addition to its core efforts, the DAE entirely supports, for example, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and its many centres. The TIFR (and the Indian Institute of Science, where Chidambaram did his PhD) are not only bastions of quality research—from fundamental to applied—but have seeded the growth of many other institutions. During his term as Chair of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, Chidambaram chaired or was a member of the Governing Council of these institutions. The tradition—set in place by Homi Bhabha— of the unflinching support of the DAE for its institutions has served the DAE, the country and the scientific world very well.

Chidambaram’s own research was in high-pressure physics, included the development of diamond anvil cells and gas guns for projectile launching. He worked on theoretical high-pressure research for calculating equation of state and phase stability of materials.

He was the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) from 1990 to 1993, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1993 to 2000, and the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India from 2001 to 2018, the latter being an extraordinary 17-year term. As PSA, Chidambaram also chaired the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C). Chidambaran and his team initiatate the National Knowledge Network ( NKN) that developed and provived high-speed connectivity to education and research institutions. This was the backbone on which much of research access and collaboration grew. The rural technology laboratories ( RuTAG) set up in several top engineering institutions continue to grow in their efforts and impact (facilitated by the current PSA).

Chidambaram was also a strong votary of inter-ministerial collaborations. He formed the Core Advisory Group for R&D in the Automotive Sector (CAR) during his tenure as Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The CAR programme was designed to increase academia-industry interaction in the automotive sector and preceded later efforts.

R. Chidambaram was key in initiating and overseeing the Advanced Ultra Supercritical (AUSC) technology project for coal-based thermal power generation in India. His involvement in this project was primarily during his tenure as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India from 2001 to 2018. The AUSC technology aims to increase plant efficiency to 46% compared to 38% in subcritical and 41-42% in supercritical plants. This is an important effort to reduce carbon footprint, moving away from the current inefficient cal technologies. It is expected to reduce coal consumption and CO2 emissions by about 11% compared to supercritical plants The project involves developing an 800 MW AUSC Technology Demonstration Plant. Chidambaram led in conceptualising and initiating the R&D program for the design of the Advanced Ultra Supercritical Thermal Plan. He led in forming a consortium of key organizations to work on the AUSC project, including IGCAR (Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research), BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited), and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation.Chidambaram emphasized that the AUSC project was being developed in a mission mode, highlighting its importance and urgency. He integrated the AUSC project into the National Action Plan for Climate Change as the ninth mission, focusing on producing power based on clean energy. This is an example on how the convening capacity of his offoce was used to embark on major missions, a theme that was leart by others and followed.

Chidambaram received numerous accolades for his contributions to science and technology, including the Padma Shri (1975) and Padma Vibhushan (1999), two of India's highest civilian honours.

Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram's work significantly advanced India's nuclear capabilities and energy security. His initiatives as Principal Scientific Adviser, such as establishing the Core Advisory Group for R&D in various technology sectors, creation of the National Knowledge Network, and creating Rural Technology Action Groups, continue to impact India's scientific landscape. His passing marks the end of an era in Indian science and technology of an individual who connected the earliest stages of India’s modern science to the present.

[Tanaji]

Thanks AmberG for the link.

Om Shanti to the illustrious son of India.

[Amber G.]

Thanks AmberG for the link.

Om Shanti to the illustrious son of India.

Thanks. The Twitter of Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan is a good resource to follow (we follow each other - he is also IIT K alum )- He is an emeritus professor and former director of NCBS. Modi'ji appointed him as the Principal Scientific Adviser to succeed Dr. R Chidamabaram (he left the post in 2022).

Some tidbits - In 1956 Dr. R. Chidambaram built a wide-line NMR spectrometer (AFAIK first in the country) for magnetic-resonance investigations when working on his Ph.D. with Prof. G. Suryan at IISC. The spectrometer worked for the next two decades. (IITK had NMR in 1960's)

There are lot of tweets in scientific world (eg DST, IIsc, TIFR etc) but somehow (as far as I see) there is little news in main news papers.

[ernest]

Our eternal gratitude to Shri Rajagopalan Chidambaram. His contributions to our nation's capability should be celebrated.

[SSridhar]

Om Shanthi & Sadghati to Dr R.Chidambaram.

[ShauryaT]

Om Shanti to Shri R. Chidambaram and thankful for his service.

[titash]

Om Shanti.

Our deepest condolences to the family of Dr R Chidambaram.

Thank you sir for your long service in the critical area of national security/survival. Those who understand your work and our nation's history will be eternally grateful to you.

[Amber G.]

Per various news reports (ToI):

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has announced that the United States will remove regulations that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation with India. This move aims to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the two countries, which was first envisioned nearly 20 years ago. ( and we have many many posts in brf dhagas:)

The removal of these regulations will enable Indian entities to collaborate with American private sector players, scientists, and technologists. This development reflects the progress made in the strategic partnership and India's transparent engagement over the past four years.

Sullivan's announcement was made during his two-day visit to India, where he met with national security advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the meeting, PM Modi expressed his optimism about the future of India-US relations, stating, "

Look forward to building upon this momentum in ties between our two democracies for the benefit of our people and global good"

. The US and India are expected to deepen their cooperation in areas like advanced semiconductor technologies and space exploration over the next decade.

[Manish_P]

Per various news reports (ToI):

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has announced that the United States will remove regulations that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation with India. This move aims to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the two countries, which was first envisioned nearly 20 years ago. ( and we have many many posts in brf dhagas:)
....

We should put this to the test by doing another round of tests

[A Deshmukh]

Enron today showed a very small portable nuclear reactor to power a home for 10 years.
may be we should be manufacturing these in India? (just connecting the dots)
win-win for both.
India is also pushing for SMR (small modular reactor).

[Cyrano]

The irony of Germany closing down all its "dangerous" nuclear power plants and then switching massively to "renewables" which did not and cannot deliver reliable power, and now reverting again massively to coal given what is posted above regarding the radioactivity of fly ash !
Then they provoked a war with Russia and compiled to American sabotage of Nordstream gas, and now their economy is in tatters.

When science gives in to ideology and politics this is what happens.

BTW, France's new EPR2 reactor is fully up and running now.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... -on-stream

Lots of lessons for Bharat here.

[Vayutuvan]

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has announced that the United States will remove regulations that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation with India....

We should put this to the test by doing another round of tests
[/quote]
@Manish_P ji, Jake S. is part of Biden lame duck admin. His days are numbered, what another few business days now. What these folks do now has no meaning.

[Cyrano]

Enron today showed a very small portable nuclear reactor to power a home for 10 years.
may be we should be manufacturing these in India? (just connecting the dots)
win-win for both.
India is also pushing for SMR (small modular reactor).

Quick, lets buy a million of these eggs with bitcoins before April 1st arrives

[Amber G.]

Enron today showed a very small portable nuclear reactor to power a home for 10 years.
may be we should be manufacturing these in India? (just connecting the dots)
win-win for both.
India is also pushing for SMR (small modular reactor).

The portable nuclear reactor you're referring to is likely the microreactor design, which has been gaining traction in recent years.

According to reports, Westinghouse Electric Company (not Enron, which ceased operations in 2004) has been working on a microreactor design that can power a small community or a single home for up to 10 years. see see eVinci

India has indeed been actively pursuing the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). In 2020, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) announced plans to develop a 300 MW SMR design, with the goal of reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

In fact, BARC has already begun working on a 100 MW SMR design, which is expected to be operational by 2025.

Quick, lets buy a million of these eggs with bitcoins before April 1st arrives

Best of luck ... Also, FWIW it may be fun to read about basics of SMR.. eg a post I made here:
.. Some basics .. speakking as a physicist anout SMR etc.

[Amber G.]

Comments like "We should put this to the test by doing another round of tests" or dismissing progress by claiming "Jake S. is part of Biden's lame duck admin" miss the mark and do little to foster meaningful dialogue. These perspectives are neither constructive nor reflective of the transformative potential of U.S.-India nuclear cooperation - honestly sometimes they just feel like trolling.

Nuclear cooperation isn’t about perpetuating BRF-jingo-type strategies—it’s about advancing clean energy solutions, securing critical resources, and building a resilient partnership to address global challenges like climate change. By framing every strategic achievement in terms of conflict or political timelines, we undermine the hard work and long-term vision of scientists, policymakers, and industries on both sides.

The U.S.-India collaboration is not tied to the tenure of any administration but is a shared commitment to innovation, prosperity, and peace. This partnership is laying a foundation for a future.

Please do read the whole fact sheet i posted in other thread.

For perspective: To me, it is progress in nuclear and allied strategic technology sectors, ... both nations have investing in fostering trust. Key highlights include: (see the details in other dhaga)

Nuclear Cooperation and Clean Energy Advancements

Strengthening Civil Nuclear Cooperation:

- NSA Sullivan announced U.S. efforts to finalize the delisting of Indian nuclear entities.
.
- Exploring Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Technology:

Ongoing discussions aim to unlock commercial partnerships for deploying SMR technology in India.

Critical Minerals Collaboration:

Signing of a Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding to enhance supply chains for vital resources like graphite, gallium, and germanium.
Joint research initiatives on processing technologies for critical minerals, including lithium and vanadium, showcasing collaborative innovation.
Geological Surveys of both nations are partnering to explore and evaluate rare earth elements and critical mineral deposits.
Strategic Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnerships
Pioneering Semiconductor Fabrication:

ityadi itaydi ...

[Manish_P]

...
@Manish_P ji, Jake S. is part of Biden lame duck admin. His days are numbered, what another few business days now. What these folks do now has no meaning.

Precisely why we should hint at wanting to do tests, Sir.

Emperor Donald might well announce that he wants India as the 56th state

Added- just noticed that this thread has the 4th of July in the title

[chetak]

Enron today showed a very small portable nuclear reactor to power a home for 10 years.
may be we should be manufacturing these in India? (just connecting the dots)
win-win for both.
India is also pushing for SMR (small modular reactor).

The portable nuclear reactor you're referring to is likely the microreactor design, which has been gaining traction in recent years.

According to reports, Westinghouse Electric Company (not Enron, which ceased operations in 2004) has been working on a microreactor design that can power a small community or a single home for up to 10 years. see see eVinci

India has indeed been actively pursuing the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). In 2020, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) announced plans to develop a 300 MW SMR design, with the goal of reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

In fact, BARC has already begun working on a 100 MW SMR design, which is expected to be operational by 2025.

Quick, lets buy a million of these eggs with bitcoins before April 1st arrives

Best of luck ... Also, FWIW it may be fun to read about basics of SMR.. eg a post I made here:
.. Some basics .. speakking as a physicist anout SMR etc.

sirji,


Rolls Royce may already have such a reactor in play


https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/ ... ors.aspx#/

[A Deshmukh]

I am referring to Enron's Egg, costing only $19k-$50k.

[Lisa]

^ https://gulfbusiness.com/fake-enron-egg ... attention/

April Fool’s comes early as fake Enron Egg grabs attention

[JTull]

For the younger ones, anything to ever do with the name "Enron" will likely be a scheme likely creating money out of thin air! Or a joke about that!