View source for Fast Breeder Test Reactor

{{Short description|Breeder reactor in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2017}}
[[File:Kalpakkam 04710083 (8386517544).jpg|thumb|Fast Breeder Test Reactor in Kalpakkam]]
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The '''Fast Breeder Test Reactor''' ('''FBTR''') is a [[breeder reactor]] located at [[Kalpakkam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igcar.ernet.in/press_releases/press15.htm |title=A creditable performance at Kalpakkam |work=[[Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research]] |date=2005-10-19 |access-date=2017-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105165909/http://www.igcar.ernet.in/press_releases/press15.htm |archive-date=5 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research ([[IGCAR]]) and [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] (BARC) jointly designed, constructed, and operate the reactor.

==History==
Construction started in 1972 ad it first reached criticality in {{start date and age|1985|10|p=y}},<ref name="urlIGCAR">{{cite web |url=http://www.igcar.gov.in/milestones.html |title=IGCAR: Milestones |work=[[Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research]] |accessdate=19 January 2023}}</ref> making India the seventh nation to have the technology to build and operate a breeder reactor after [[United States]], [[UK]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[Germany]], and [[Russia]].  The reactor was designed to produce 40&nbsp;[[Megawatt|MW]] of thermal power and 13.2&nbsp;MW of electrical power. The initial nuclear fuel core used in the FBTR consisted of approximately {{convert|50|kg|abbr=on}} of weapons-grade [[plutonium]].

The FBTR has rarely operated at its designed capacity and had to be shut down between 1987 and 1989 due to technical problems. From 1989 to 1992, the reactor operated at 1&nbsp;MW.

In 1993, the reactor's power level was raised to 10.5&nbsp;MW. In September 2002, fuel burn-up in the FBTR for the first time reached the 100,000 megawatt-days per metric ton uranium (MWd/MTU) mark.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} This is considered an important milestone in breeder reactor technology. On 7 March 2022 it attained the design power level of 40 MWt.<ref name="urlIGCAR" />

Using the experience gained from the operation of the FBTR and [[KAMINI]] a 500&nbsp;MWe [[Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor]] (PFBR) is in advanced stage of construction at Kalpakkam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian test reactor reaches operation landmark : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Indian-test-reactor-reaches-operation-landmark |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.world-nuclear-news.org}}</ref>

==Technical details==
The reactor uses a [[plutonium]]-[[uranium]] mixed carbide fuel and liquid sodium as a coolant. The fuel is an indigenous mix of 70 percent plutonium carbide and 30 percent uranium carbide. Plutonium for the fuel is extracted from irradiated fuel in the Madras power reactors and reprocessed in [[Tarapur Atomic Power Station|Tarapur]].

Some of the uranium is created from the transmutation of thorium bundles that are also placed in the core.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release13/pib_27-02-2013_4.htm |title=Press Release {{!}} February 27, 2013 |work=[[Department of Science and Technology (India)]] |date=27 February 2013 |access-date=2014-03-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322030151/http://dst.gov.in/whats_new/press-release13/pib_27-02-2013_4.htm |archive-date=2014-03-22}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nuclear power in India}}
{{nuclear fission reactors}}

[[Category:Liquid metal fast reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology in India]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]


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