Commissioning of New Zirconium Sponge AERB’s...
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17 Shri S.K. Sharma has been appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in place of Prof. S.P. Sukhatme who relin- quished office on January 14, 2005 on expiry of his term as Chairman, AERB. Prior to this Shri Sharma was Vice Chairman, AERB and Chairman, Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP) from January 1, 2003 till his superannuation on July 31, 2004. A Graduate in Chemical Engineering from the Banaras Hindu University, Shri Sharma has earlier served BARC in different capacities from 1963 onwards. As Director, Reactor Group, he had the responsibility for operation and utilization of three research reactors APSARA, CIRUS and DHRUVA, at Trombay. He was also responsible for carrying out extensive refurbishing of CIRUS, after which this facility was brought back to operation. Shri Sharma was the Chairman of Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP) which is the Apex Committee for reviewing safety of all operating plants of DAE. He was the Vice-chairman of AERB’s Advisory Committee on Nuclear Safety that advises AERB on generic matters of nuclear safety and which carries out review of a large number of safety documents. As Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Project Safety Review of Light Water Reactors, he remained actively involved in the safety review of design of Kudankulam reactors. He has carried out several assignments of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by way of participating in Training Courses and Co-ordinated Research Programmes and developing safety docu- ments for research reactors and nuclear power plants. He was a member of IAEA’s Nuclear Safety Standards Committee (NUSSC) from January 2002 to mid-2003 and is a member of the newly constituted International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) from end of 2003. AERB’s New Chairman Commissioning of New Zirconium Sponge Plant (NZSP) at Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad Zirconium Sponge Plant (ZSP) at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad was set up in 1971, based on the laboratory experiments at IISc, Bangalore and later developmental studies in Metallurgy Division of BARC. Production scale operations were taken up on ZSP at NFC with a batch size of 150 kgs. As a result of many important innovations in the process as well as equip- ment it had been possible to upgrade the batch size to 550 kg over the years. Due to highly corrosive nature of the materials being handled in ZSP, the civil structure of the high bay had deteriorated. Safety Review Committee of Operating Plants (SARCOP) recommended that the operations in the old building had to be discontinud from safety point of view. Consequently, a new building for Kroll’s reduction and vacuum distillation units with the capacity of 250 tonnes/year (typ) of reactor grade zirconium sponge, has been constructed with the special features of (i) the batch size increased to 750 kgs of the reactor grade zirconium sponge, (ii) PLC based control systems, (iii) partitioning of the two high bays, (iv) a common control room be- tween the two high bays totally isolated from the pro- cessing bay and (v) epoxy coated structurals for protection against chloride attack. The high bay house 6 units of reduction furnaces each 400 kW rating and 4 units for pyro-vacuum distillation, all controlled by programmable logic controller (PLC). The construction of the bay of 17-metre height with EOT crane gantry at the height of 10.8 metres was completed in 17 months incorporating the special features of M-30 grade concrete and the epoxy coated structurals for cor- rosion protection. The new high bay has been located, adjacent to the old ZSP site. The erection of pit furnaces (6 Nos.) vacuum bell furnaces (4 Nos.), utilities, power supply, PLC systems, vacuum system (<100 u Hg), ventilation systems etc. was completed by May 2004. As per SARCOP recommen- dations, the process units were commissioned one by one after elborate dry run testing for the control of the process parameters within the safe limits. The Plant was inaugnrated by Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, AEC on June 20, 2004. The parameters have been optimized for improved quality of sponge and the plant has achieved its name-plate capacity. For meeting the increasing demand for zirconium sponge, the old ZSP is being refurbished. In addition, a new plant for manufacture of 500 tpy reactor grade zirconium oxide and 250 tpy zirconium sponge is being set up at Palayakayal, near Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
Transcript of Commissioning of New Zirconium Sponge AERB’s...
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Shri S.K. Sharma hasbeen appointed Chairmanof the Atomic EnergyRegulatory Board(AERB) in place of Prof.S.P. Sukhatme who relin-quished office on January14, 2005 on expiry of histerm as Chairman,AERB. Prior to thisShri Sharma was Vice
Chairman, AERB and Chairman, Safety ReviewCommittee for Operating Plants (SARCOP) fromJanuary 1, 2003 till his superannuation on July 31,2004.
A Graduate in Chemical Engineering from theBanaras Hindu University, Shri Sharma has earlierserved BARC in different capacities from 1963onwards. As Director, Reactor Group, he had theresponsibility for operation and utilization of threeresearch reactors APSARA, CIRUS and DHRUVA,at Trombay. He was also responsible for carryingout extensive refurbishing of CIRUS, after which thisfacility was brought back to operation.
Shri Sharma was the Chairman of Safety ReviewCommittee for Operating Plants (SARCOP) whichis the Apex Committee for reviewing safety of alloperating plants of DAE. He was the Vice-chairmanof AERB’s Advisory Committee on Nuclear Safetythat advises AERB on generic matters of nuclearsafety and which carries out review of a large numberof safety documents. As Vice-Chairman of theAdvisory Committee for Project Safety Review ofLight Water Reactors, he remained actively involvedin the safety review of design of Kudankulam reactors.
He has carried out several assignments of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by wayof participating in Training Courses and Co-ordinatedResearch Programmes and developing safety docu-ments for research reactors and nuclear power plants.He was a member of IAEA’s Nuclear SafetyStandards Committee (NUSSC) from January 2002to mid-2003 and is a member of the newly constitutedInternational Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) fromend of 2003.
AERB’s New ChairmanCommissioning of New Zirconium Sponge
Plant (NZSP) at Nuclear Fuel Complex,Hyderabad
Zirconium Sponge Plant (ZSP) at Nuclear FuelComplex (NFC), Hyderabad was set up in 1971, basedon the laboratory experiments at IISc, Bangalore and laterdevelopmental studies in Metallurgy Division of BARC.Production scale operations were taken up on ZSP atNFC with a batch size of 150 kgs. As a result of manyimportant innovations in the process as well as equip-ment it had been possible to upgrade the batch size to550 kg over the years.
Due to highly corrosive nature of the materials beinghandled in ZSP, the civil structure of the high bay haddeteriorated. Safety Review Committee of OperatingPlants (SARCOP) recommended that the operations inthe old building had to be discontinud from safety point ofview. Consequently, a new building for Kroll’s reductionand vacuum distillation units with the capacity of 250tonnes/year (typ) of reactor grade zirconium sponge, hasbeen constructed with the special features of (i) the batchsize increased to 750 kgs of the reactor grade zirconiumsponge, (ii) PLC based control systems, (iii) partitioningof the two high bays, (iv) a common control room be-tween the two high bays totally isolated from the pro-cessing bay and (v) epoxy coated structurals for protectionagainst chloride attack.
The high bay house 6 units of reduction furnaces each400 kW rating and 4 units for pyro-vacuum distillation, allcontrolled by programmable logic controller (PLC). Theconstruction of the bay of 17-metre height with EOTcrane gantry at the height of 10.8 metres was completedin 17 months incorporating the special features of M-30grade concrete and the epoxy coated structurals for cor-rosion protection. The new high bay has been located,adjacent to the old ZSP site.
The erection of pit furnaces (6 Nos.) vacuum bellfurnaces (4 Nos.), utilities, power supply, PLC systems,vacuum system (<100 u Hg), ventilation systems etc. wascompleted by May 2004. As per SARCOP recommen-dations, the process units were commissioned one by oneafter elborate dry run testing for the control of the processparameters within the safe limits.
The Plant was inaugnrated by Dr. Anil Kakodkar,Chairman, AEC on June 20, 2004. The parameters havebeen optimized for improved quality of sponge and theplant has achieved its name-plate capacity.
For meeting the increasing demand for zirconiumsponge, the old ZSP is being refurbished. In addition, anew plant for manufacture of 500 tpy reactor gradezirconium oxide and 250 tpy zirconium sponge is beingset up at Palayakayal, near Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
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DAE’s participation in 92nd Session of Indian Science Congress
The 92nd session of the IndianScience Congress was held at theNirma University, Ahmedabad duringJanuary 3-7, 2005. Parallel tothe Science Congress was anexhibition, Pride of India, with thetheme ‘Frontier Science & Technolo-gies’. The Hall of Pride in thisexhibition paid rich tributes to theachievements and contributions of lateDr Raja Ramanna, former Chairman,Atomic Energy Commission, and lateShri Kasturibhai Lalbhai, the noted in-dustrialist and founder of Arvind Mills.
DAE put up a mega pavilion,
Students being shown the articulatedmaster slave manipulator
A working plasma model beingexplained
Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President ofIndia, at the DAE Pavilion
Visitors queuing up to see the DAEPavilion.
Visitors being explained the model ofcalandria
Physically challenged students at theDAE Pavilion.
A panoramic view of DAE Pavilion The front view of the DAE Pavilion Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science &Technology Govt. of India going throughthe DAE display
showcasing its achievements in theareas of power generation, healthcare,agriculture & food, industry,environment, advanced technologiesetc. The President of India Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam visited the pavilion andlauded the department for itscontributions towards societaldevelopment. Some of the other dig-nitaries who visited were, Shri KapilSibal, Cabinet Minister for Science &Technology (who also inaugurated thePride of India exhibition) andShri Narendra Modi, Chief Ministerof Gujarat.
An Articulated Master Slave Ma-nipulator model and a programmedrobot – ‘Smart Nav’ were the primeattraction. The Institute of PlasmaResearch, Ahmedabad displayed pan-els and other exhibits on plasmaresearch .
DAE’s activities were alsohighlighted through multimediapresentations and shows in a speciallycreated theatre. Almost one lakhpeople comprising students,academicians, general public, farmers,etc. thronged the pavilion.
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The Meghalaya Government celebrated the 33rd Meghalaya Day on January 21, 2005. On this occasion an exhibi-tion was arranged in the Central Library, Shillong during January 21-24, 2005 in which many central and state govern-ment departments, non-governmental organisations and private entrepreneurs participated. The Department of AtomicEnergy along with the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. and the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration &Research (North Eastern Region) had set up a pavilion in this exhibition and displayed bilingual panels in Khasi andEnglish on various activities of the Department. Samples of various atomic minerals and a model of Domiasiaturanium deposit were also displayed. The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri M.M. Jacob, Governor of Meghalaya.The DAE pavilion attracted a large number of visitors from various sections of society and was awarded the SecondBest Pavilion among the Central Government Departments.
DAE joins the Meghalaya Day celebrations at Shillong
Shri M M Jacob, Governor of Meghalayaand Shri Martle N. Mukhim, Minister forSocial Welfare, Animal HusbandryVeterinary, Administrative Reforms,Reorganisation, Government ofMeghalaya, looking at the exhibits.
Shri H. S. Lyngdoh, M.L.A, MeghalayaAssembly, at the DAE Pavilion
Shri P. Bezley, Chief Secretary,Meghalaya Government and his wife atthe DAE Pavilion
Visitors being shown the minerals androck samples form N E Region
Head, Public Awareness Division, DAEreceiving the trophy fromDr. D D Lapang, Chief Minister,Meghalaya.
The proud team from DAE, AMD, UCILand NEHU with trophy
Edited and published by R K Bhatnagar, Hd. Publication Dn, Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, Mumbai-1, and printed by him at M/s Krishna Art Printry Pvt. Ltd., Byculla, Mumbai-400 027.
EDITORIAL GROUP: Dr. R. B. Grover, Director, Strategic Plng. Group, DAE and Group Director, Knowledge Management, BARC lK. Muralidhar, Secretary,AEC lDr. K S Parthasarathy, Sr. DAE-Scientist, SPG l Dr. Vijai Kumar, Head SIRD, BARC l P.K. Kush, Head, Cryogenic Lab, CAT l P.V. Dubey, CompanySecretary, UCIL l G.Srihari Rao, Executive Director (IT&TG) ECIL l N. Panchapakesan, Manager (L&IS), NFC l S.K. Malhotra, Head, Public Awareness Dn,DAE l Arun Srivastava, SPG, DAE
EDITOR : R K Bhatnagar, Head, Publication Dn, DAE, e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected], Fax: 022 - 2204 8476, 2202 6728
R.No. 9002/62
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