Andhra University is likely to get a prototype ‘sub-critical nuclear reactor’ or ‘clean nuclear reactor’ for its researchers in the department of nuclear physics and chemistry.
According to the Vice-Chancellor of the university G. Nageswara Rao, discussions are on with an American firm and government for installing the reactor in AU.
Unique technology
“The reactor can provide real-time exposure to the students as well as researchers of the nuclear physics and chemistry departments of the varsity. No other nuclear facility in India posses this unique technology-contained reactors,” said Prof. Nageswara Rao.
Sources say that AU had almost clinched the deal but was put on hold, as the government wanted the reactor to be installed at Mori smart village in East Godavari district.
The reactor reportedly can produce 5 MW of electricity, which is sufficient to light about 10 villages. Explaining the technicalities, a professor at the nuclear physics department said that a subcritical nuclear reactor is a device where the nuclear-fission chain reaction is initiated and maintained using an external continuous neutron source, whereas the conventional reactors will keep on releasing energy as long as there is a critical mass of fuel.
“When the supply of neutrons is stopped, the sub-critical reactor is immediately shut down. The energy is induced by fission reactions for which the neutrons are needed. The ‘subcritical nuclear reactor’ is free from the core meltdown, which is not the case with conventional nuclear reactors,” the professor said.
The Vice-Chancellor added that the proposed nuclear reactor is thorium-based and India accounts for 25 % of global thorium reserve.
