Dhruva reactor

The Dhruva reactor is India's largest nuclear research reactor. It was the first nuclear reactor in Asia proper.[1] Located in the Mumbai suburb of Trombay at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), it is India's primary generator of weapons-grade plutonium-bearing spent fuel for its nuclear weapons program. Originally named the R-5, this open pool reactor first went critical on 8 August 1985 after 10 years of construction. However, the unit did not attain full power until 1988.[2] The reactor experienced at least one serious accident when 4MT (four metric tons) of heavy water overflowed from the reactor core in 1985 following vibration problems.[3]

Designed as a larger version of the CIRUS reactor, Dhruva was an Indian designed project built to provide an independent source of weapons-grade plutonium free from safeguards.[4] The Dhruva project cost 950 million rupees. The reactor uses heavy water (deuterium) as a moderator and coolant. Aluminum clad fuel rods containing natural uranium are used to obtain a maximum power output of 100 megawatts.[3] The reactor can produce 20–25 kilograms (44–55 lb) of weapons-grade plutonium per year.[5] [6]

Dhruva, in Indian mythology, is a prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star (Dhruva Nakshatra in Sanskrit) by Lord Vishnu. It can also mean simply the Pole Star or 'ultimate' in Sanskrit.[7]

See also

References
  1. Office of Scientific Intelligence (26 March 1958). "Indian Nuclear Energy Program" (PDF). National Security Archive. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  2. Andrew Koch (1999). "Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities". Archived from the original on 15 December 2001.
  3. "Dhruva Research Reactor". Nuclear Threat Initiative. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. Menon, Amarnath K (3 January 2014). "Indian scientists achieve major landmark in atomic energy programme with Dhruva". India Today. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  5. Albright, David; Hibbs, Mark (31 August 1992). "India's Silent Bomb". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
  6. Sidhu, Waheguru Pal Singh (2013). Enhancing Indo-US Strategic Cooperation (2nd ed.). Abingdon: Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-136-04608-7.
  7. Vinay, Dr (2006). Linga Purana. Diamond Pocket Books. p. 41. ISBN 9788128806797.


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