04-29-2006, 07:43 PM
<b>Tarapore nuclear plant to go critical next month</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->With the criticality of the second 540 MW nuclear reactor at Tarapore, the country's total installed capacity of nuclear energy will go up to 3,890 MW from the existing 3,350 MW of electricity, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd officials said.
"The process of loading 5,096 fuel bundles (392 channels with 13 bundles each) was completed today, which is a major task before proceeding for the criticality," they said.
This will be followed by 'air-hold' and helium leak testing of coolant channels. Then heavy water will be injected into Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS), they added.
After getting clearance up to this stage from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the engineers will add heavy water into the moderator system of the reactor.
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"The process of loading 5,096 fuel bundles (392 channels with 13 bundles each) was completed today, which is a major task before proceeding for the criticality," they said.
This will be followed by 'air-hold' and helium leak testing of coolant channels. Then heavy water will be injected into Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS), they added.
After getting clearance up to this stage from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the engineers will add heavy water into the moderator system of the reactor.
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