Seminar on Advanced Heavy Water Reactor Concludes
(MOHSINA BANO)
Udaipur: A one-day seminar on "Advanced Heavy Water Reactor" was organized by The Institution of Engineers India, Udaipur Local Center at its auditorium. The event commenced with a welcome address by the center’s president, Eng. Purushottam Paliwal, who highlighted the development of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). This innovative nuclear reactor design is aimed at generating electricity using thorium. It is a 300 MW vertical pressure tube-type reactor that operates with boiling light water for cooling and heavy water for moderation. The reactor includes several passive safety features and is designed to provide higher efficiency, improved safety, and reduced waste compared to traditional light water reactors.
Eng. Piyush Javeria, Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Engineers India, Udaipur Local Center, shared insights on the latest advancements in this nuclear technology. He explained the significance of the AHWR’s design, which aims to harness thorium for large-scale power generation. The seminar included various discussions and presentations on topics like the current status of the technology, its potential benefits, recent developments in safety, and the role of heavy water reactors in addressing future energy demands.
Dr. (Prof.) Prithvi Yadav, President and Vice-Chancellor of Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur, was the chief guest of the seminar. He addressed the audience with a historical perspective on India’s nuclear energy achievements, referencing the 8,000 MW milestone predicted by Homi J. Bhabha, the founder of India’s nuclear program. Dr. Yadav also called on scientists to contribute their expertise towards achieving this goal for a self-reliant and developed India.
Eng. Mahendra Kumar Chauhan, President of the Rajasthan State Centre, The Institution of Engineers India, Jaipur, also addressed the gathering. He encouraged students to aim for entrepreneurship rather than just seeking employment, suggesting that they should aspire to start their own ventures and create jobs for others.
The seminar’s key speaker, Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Jain, Lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Government Polytechnic College, Kota, and Council Member of IEI Kolkata, elaborated on the AHWR’s development by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He explained that the AHWR uses a combination of thorium, plutonium, and low-enriched uranium, marking a significant advancement in nuclear power generation. Dr. Jain also highlighted the global importance of thorium, which is more abundant than uranium and crucial for sustainable energy resources.
Other guest speakers, including Eng. Suresh Chandra Gandhi, former scientific officer at NPCIL, and Eng. K.K. Sharma, former scientific officer at NPCIL, discussed nuclear energy production methods, such as fusion and fission reactors. They emphasized the role of nuclear energy in India’s energy security, particularly in the context of limited domestic fossil fuel resources and the need for self-reliance in nuclear technology.
The seminar also featured presentations by Eng. Karan Singh Singhal, former scientific officer at NPCIL, and Eng. Prem Kumar Sharma, former Deputy Chief Engineer, RR Site, DAE, who discussed India’s three-stage nuclear program, the manufacturing process of heavy water, and the global landscape of nuclear power plants.
The event concluded with a greater understanding of the advanced heavy water reactor technology and its potential to meet India’s future energy needs. Participants were encouraged to continue exploring innovations in nuclear energy to ensure sustainable development for future generations.
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