Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
| Rajasthan Atomic Power Station | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 24°52′20″N 75°36′50″E / 24.87222°N 75.61389°ECoordinates: 24°52′20″N 75°36′50″E / 24.87222°N 75.61389°E |
| Construction began | 1963 |
| Commission date | 16 December 1973 |
| Operator(s) | Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) |
| Nuclear power station | |
| Reactor type | PHWR |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational |
1 x 100 MW 1 x 200 MW 4 x 220 MW |
| Units under const. | 2 x 700 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 1,180 MW |
| Capacity factor | 30.4% |
| Annual net output | 3,140 GW·h |
|
Website Nuclear power Corporation of India Ltd | |
The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS; also Rajasthan Atomic Power Project - RAPP) is located at Rawatbhata in the state of Rajasthan, India.
History
The construction of the Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station Canada began in 1961 with a CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) capable of producing 220 MW of electricity. Two years after construction of the Rajasthan Power Project (RAPP) commenced, with two similar reactors built in the state of Rajasthan. Ten years later, in 1973 RAPS-1 was put into service. In 1974 after India conducted Smiling Buddha, its first nuclear weapons test Canada stopped their support of the project, delaying the commissioning of RAPS-2 until 1981.[1]
In the context of the Indian atomic program, two more PHWR with an output of 220 MW each were built. They cost around 570 million dollars. RAPS-3 became critical on 24 December 1999, RAPS-4 became critical on 3 November 2000. Commercial operations began on 1 June 2000 for unit 3, and on 23 December 2000 for unit 4.
Two more reactors (RAPS-5 and RAPS-6) with 220 MWe have also been built, with unit 5 beginning commercial operation on 4 February 2010, and unit 6 on 31 March 2010.[2]
Two of the new Indian-designed 700 MWe series of reactor (RAPP-7 and RAPP-8) are under construction at Rajasthan.
In November 2012, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) intensively audited over several weeks two reactors at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station for safety. It has concluded that the reactors are among the best in the world, the indigenously made 220 MW atomic plants can withstand a Fukushima type of accident, even suggesting that the "safety culture is strong in India" and that India emerged a winner with a high global safety rank.[3]
First concrete for unit 7 was poured on 18 July 2011,[4] with commercial operation expected by 2016. The two reactors will cost an estimated Rs 123.2 billion (US$2.6 billion).[5]
Incidents
By 2003 RAPS-1 had experienced numerous problems due to leaks, cracks in the end-shield and turbine blade failures, had undergone repairs and appeared to be generating 100 MW electricity, with RAPS-2 reportedly generating 200 MW.[1]
On 29 August 2006, a 90% iron meteorite weighing 6.8 kilograms fell in Kanvarpura village, near the power station. The Deputy Director-General (western region) of the Geological Survey of India, R.S. Goyal, said that devastation on an "unimaginable scale" would have ensued had the object struck the station.[6]
In June 2012, 38 workers were exposed to tritium when a welding operation went wrong inside the protected environment of the reactor.[7]
Units
| Unit | Type | Net MW | Gross MW | Construction | Date of Criticality | Commercial operation | Shut down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan−1 | CANDU | 90 MW | 100 MW | 01.08.1965 – 30.11.1972 | 11.08.1973 | 16.12.1973 | Oct 2014 |
| Rajasthan−2 | PHWR | 187 MW | 200 MW | 01.04.1968 – 01.11.1980 | May 1981 | 01.04.1981 | |
| Rajasthan−3 | PHWR | 202 MW | 220 MW | 01.02.1990 – 10.03.2000 | 01.06.2000 | ||
| Rajasthan−4 | PHWR | 202 MW | 220 MW | 01.10.1990 – 17.11.2000 | 23.12.2000 | ||
| Rajasthan−5 | PHWR | 202 MW | 220 MW | 18.09.2002 – | 24.11.2009 [8] | 04.02.2010 [2] | |
| Rajasthan−6 | PHWR | 202 MW | 220 MW | 20.01.2003 – | 31.03.2010 [2] | ||
| Rajasthan−7 | PHWR | 630 MW | 700 MW | 18.07.2011 [9] | 2017 (expected) | ||
| Rajasthan−8 | PHWR | 630 MW | 700 MW | Dec.2011 | 2018(expected) |
See also
References
- 1 2 "Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS)". Nuclear Threat Initiative. 2003-09-01. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
- 1 2 3 "Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS)". Plants Under Operation. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ↑ UN's nuclear watchdog: Rajasthan reactors are among world's safest. NDTV.com (2012-11-15). Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
- ↑ "India begins construction of 25th nuclear plant". The Hindu. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ↑ "Construction starts on new Rajasthan units". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association (WNA). 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ↑ Meteorite fall in Rajasthan village The Hindu, 2006-09-06.
- ↑ Radiation scare in Rajasthan, workers exposed. NDTV.com (2012-06-30). Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
- ↑ "RAPS' fifth nuclear reactor attains criticality". The Hindu. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ↑ "Construction of RAPP-7&8 Begins – First Pour of Concrete Achieved" (PDF) (Press release). NPCIL. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
External links
- Juggernaut, a 1968 Canadian documentary on the delivery of the plant's calandria.