Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) 

News: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved the operational license for Units 3 and 4 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat.

About Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)

• The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) forms the foundation of the first stage of India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme.
• It operates using natural uranium as fuel, which contains approximately 99.28% uranium-238.
• During the fission process, the reactor generates plutonium-239 as a by-product.
• This plutonium-239 is later used to create Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel, a combination of uranium and plutonium, which will serve as fuel for Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) in the second stage of the programme.
• The PHWR uses heavy water (D₂O) as both the coolant and neutron moderator, allowing the reactor to sustain a chain reaction even with natural uranium.
• Advantages
  • They use thin-walled pressure tubes instead of a large pressure vessel, which is typically used in other reactor types such as Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs).
  • This design reduces the potential severity of accidents in case of a rupture, making the reactor inherently safer and easier to manage.

About Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is a regulatory authority in India.
• It was established in November 1983 under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
• AERB is responsible for ensuring the safety of nuclear and radiation facilities and activities across the country.
• Objective: Its primary objective is to protect human health and the environment from potential risks associated with ionizing radiation and nuclear energy.
• The Board functions as the regulatory body for nuclear safety, setting standards, granting licenses, and enforcing compliance.