With neutron multiplication in the core reactor having begun around Saturday afternoon and progressing steadily, the first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu — the largest single power generation unit of the country — will have attained first criticality in the small hours of Sunday.
“The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is well on the way to attain first criticality at midnight of July 13-14, 2013,” KKNPP’s site director RS Sundar said.
“The neutron multiplication in the reactor core has started around noon time on Saturday and is progressing further in line as expected with dilution of the boric acid in the primary coolant water,” Sundar said in a statement issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India ltd (NPCIl).
Sundar said, the first approach to criticality was undertaken after conforming to all the criteria for system performances as per the design requirements and after meeting all the stipulated statutory and regulatory requirements.
The AERB has given the final clearance to the process which began at 11.49 pm on Thursday. A team of AERB, NPCIl and Russian specialists is supervising the process.
“At the next step, reactor power will be increased in stages to generate 1,000 MW electricity, as per laid down procedures and regulatory clearances. At the first stage the plant will be synchronised to the southern grid with about 400 MW power within expected period of 30 to 45 days from criticality,” Sundar said.
In the subsequent stages, after completion of procedural and regulatory requirements, power will be increased in steps of 50 per cent, 75 per cent, 90 per cent and 100 per cent, This is 21st nuclear power reactor in the country and India’s first pressurised water reactor belonging to light water reactor category.
KKNPP units 1 and 2 are VVER-1,000 type reactors set up at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu with technical cooperation with the Russian Federation.
The nuclear fuel loading in the reactor of unit-1 was accomplished in October 2012. The reactor was loaded with fuel assemblies containing about 80 tonnes of Uranium Oxide.
Subsequently, a number of safety tests at the operating temperature and pressure were carried out successfully, thus ensuring the performance of various equipment as per the design intent.
The KKNPP unit-1 will add 1,000 MW electricity to the southern grid and increase the contribution from nuclear power in the country to 5,780 MW.
Apart from first unit of KKNPP, other nuclear power projects which are under construction include: KKNPP Unit-2 (1,000 MW), Kakrapar Atomic Power Project - 3 and 4 (2X700 MW) and Rajasthan Atomic Power Project - 7 and 8 (2X700 MW). On completion of these ongoing projects, India’s installed nuclear power will reach to 9,580 MW.
