Materials and manufacturing technologies for sodium cooled fast reactors and associated fuel cycle: innovations and maturity

Abstract

Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are emerging as vital source of power generation in India towards meeting energy security and sustainability for the growing economy of India. The success of FBR programme depends on continuous operation of reactor system and reprocessing and waste management facilities to ensure economy and also to achieve sustained fissile material production for several FBRs planned in future. Extensive research and development in domains of materials and manufacturing technologies are demanded towards development of FBRs and their associated fuel cycle technologies. This paper highlights the work and the approaches adopted at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam for the successful development of materials, manufacturing and inspection technologies for both reactor and reprocessing facilities of the current and future Indian FBR programme.