Research Reactors: Apsara,Cirus,Kamini,Purnima I,Purnima II,Purnima III and Zerlina
Research Reactors
Apsara
Cirus
Dhruva
Kamini
Purnima I
Purnima Il
Purnima III
Zerlina
Apsara Reactor at BARC
Dhruva & Cirus Reactors
APSARA REACTOR
No.
Item
Description
1
Reactor Type
Swimming pool type/ Thermal Reactor
2
Date of Criticality
August 4,1956
3
Reactor Power (Th)
1 MW (Maximum)
4
Fuel Material
Enriched uranium -aluminium alloy
5
Fuel Element
Plates
6
Fuel Cladding
Aluminium alloy
7
Total weight of Fuel
4.5 kg
8
Core Size
560 mm X 560 mm X 615 mm(H)
9
Max Neutron Flux
1013n/cm2/sec
10
Moderator
Light water
11
Coolant
Light water
12
Shut off Rods
Cadmium
13
Uses
Production of isotopes; basic research;
shielding experiments; neutron activation analysis; neutron radiography; testing of neutron detectors
The Reactor was permanently shutdown in 2010.
Upgraded 2 MWth Reactor with LEU fuel is under construction.
CIRUS REACTOR
The CIRUS reactor was commissioned on 10th July 1960. It was built in collaboration with Canada under the leadership of Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha. This reactor was extensively used for condensed matter research, using neutron beams extracted from its core. The reactor was also extensively used for material irradiation, fuel testing, neutron activation analysis and production of radioisotopes for application in the fields of medicine, agriculture and industry. CIRUS reactor proved to be an excellent platform for training of engineers and scientists and in understanding the intricacies of managing natural uranium, heavy water, reactor systems which eventually evolved into the Indian pressurized heavy water reactor programme. After 50 years of successful operation, it was decided to permanently shut-down the reactor in December 2010.
No.
Item
Description
1
Reactor Type
Vertical Tank Type / Thermal Reactor
2
Date of Criticality
July 10,1960
3
Reactor Power (Th)
40 MW (Maximum)
4
Fuel Material
Natural Uranium Metal
5
Fuel Element
Rods
6
Fuel Cladding
Aluminium
7
Total weight of Fuel
10.5 T
8
Core Size
2.67m (D) X 3.14m(H)
9
Max Neutron Flux
6.5x1013n/cm2/sec
10
Moderator
Heavy water
11
Coolant
Light water
12
Shut off Rods
Boron Cadmium
13
Uses
Production of isotopes ; R & D in reactor technology; manpower training; neutron beam research; neutron activation analysis; development and testing of fuel assemblies; testing of neutron detectors
The Reactor was permanently shutdown on 31.12.2010.
DHRUVA REACTOR
During early 1970s a strong need was felt for building a research reactor with higher neutron flux to meet the growing demand of radioisotopes and advanced research in basic sciences. This led to the setting up of a research reactor at BARC which was named Dhruva by Dr. Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India. Construction of DHRUVA was an important milestone in the development and implementation of indigenous nuclear technology in India. The reactor incorporates several features catering to the requirements of a broad-based multidisciplinary user community as also in the production of radioisotopes of high specific activity. Dhruva has been declared as a National Facility for Neutron Beam Research to cater to the needs of Indian scientific community where scientists from BARC, other units of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), universities and national laboratories work under collaborative projects. Many of the collaborations are supported by the University Grants Commission – DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE-CSR), the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) and other agencies. At present there are about 40 active projects running under the UGC-DAE-CSR scheme.
